People with disabilities and Deaf people experience violent crime at three times the rate of people without disabilities, yet healing services and the legal system are often not accessible to them. There are a number of steps agencies can take to make their services more accessible and welcoming for survivors with disabilities and Deaf victims, including asking every victim if they need accommodations to participate in services or the legal system.

Just Ask: A Toolkit to Help Attorneys and Prosecutors Meet the Needs of Crime Victims with Disabilities lays out four simple steps for providing accommodations to survivors with disabilities, and includes sample language you can use when talking to survivors. It also outlines what your agency needs to have in place for staff to be able to provide accommodations as soon as survivors request them.

The toolkit includes:

Palm Card

The palm card outlines four steps for asking about and providing accommodations, as well as sample questions to ask. It is designed to be carried with you or displayed on your desk and used while working with survivors.

Quick Reference Guide

A companion to the palm cards, the quick reference guide contains detailed information on the four steps for asking about and providing accommodations, including additional recommended language to guide your conversation with victims.

Agency Readiness Guide

These short guides offer recommendations to ensure your agency is prepared to provide accommodations, including creating or revising an accommodations policy, budgeting for access, and building relationships with disability and Deaf service organizations.

Tip Sheet

The tip sheet offers examples of common accommodations survivors may request.

Poster

Designed to be displayed in your office, the poster communicates to people with disabilities your agency’s commitment to providing accommodations. – Downloadable poster coming soon.

Demonstration Video

Asking about Accommodations: An Instructional Video for Attorneys