TEN THINGS INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTERS CAN DO TO ASSIST WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES WHO ARE EXPERIENCING ABUSE

Source: CROWD

The Center for Research on Women with Disabilities has produced a poster on abuse of women with disabilities. You may request a copy of this poster, which has space to add information on how to contact local abuse intervention programs.

Screen for abuse when doing intakes with your consumers, using the Abuse Assessment Screen-Disability.*

Incorporate abuse safety planning as part of your peer counseling services.*
If you have a resource library for consumers, include resources on emotional, physical and sexual abuse.*

Become familiar with abuse intervention services offered in your community, and how accessible the services are to people with disabilities, so that you can refer consumers to these services.

Assist women in locating alternative attendent services when the person providing their care has been abusive.

Invite staff of abuse intervention programs to train your staff on abuse issues.
Offer to train abuse intervention staff on disability issues.

Collaborate with abuse intervention programs to train other service providers, such as law enforcement and medical and social service professionals, on the particular needs of women with disabilities who are experiencing abuse.

Collaborate with domestic abuse shelters to provide personal assistants to women with disabilities staying there and to replace medications and assistive devices left behind when women leave home due to abuse.


*The abuse screening questionnaire, resource list, and safety plan are included in an Abuse Prevention Kit which can be ordered from the Center for Research on Women with Disabilities.