Resource Library

Know More, Do More: Navigating Scenarios & Solutions for Stalking Survivors with Disabilities

Watch Part 2 of the Know More, Do More series as we continue our exploration of stalking and its impact on survivors with disabilities. This session began with a short recap of key concepts from Part 1, including stalking behaviors, tactics, and the intersection with domestic and sexual violence. We then dove into real-world scenarios, providing an opportunity to discuss specific challenges and strategies for supporting survivors with disabilities. Participants had the chance to ask questions, share insights, and collaborate on solutions for addressing the unique needs of those affected by stalking. This session was designed to deepen your understanding and enhance your ability to provide effective support to victims with disabilities.

View this interactive webinar, presented by Natalie Ivey, the Training and Criminal Justice Specialist for the Stalking, Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center (SPARC), an Aequitas initiative.

Know More, Do More: Recognizing and Responding to Stalking Among Victims with Disabilities

Stalking is a prevalent, dangerous, and often misunderstood crime. For victims with disabilities, stalking can be even more complex, with additional barriers to seeking help, increased vulnerability, and unique challenges in safety planning. This webinar explored the dynamics of stalking, common tactics used by perpetrators, the intersection of stalking with domestic and sexual violence, as well as tools to plan for survivor safety and hold offenders accountable. This presentation focused on specific considerations for working with survivors of stalking who have disabilities.  
 
Attendees learned to identify stalking behaviors and dynamics, recognize the intersection of stalking with other crimes, and apply strategies for working with survivors with disabilities who have experienced stalking. Watch this informative webinar, presented by Natalie Ivey, the Training and Criminal Justice Specialist for the Stalking, Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center (SPARC), an Aequitas initiative. 

Guardianship Essentials: Scenarios, Solutions, and Strategies 

Guardianship is a factor in the lives of adult survivors with disabilities that would not be a factor for adult survivors without disabilities. For some adults with disabilities, the courts have appointed replacement decision-makers in their lives, having deemed them incapable of making some critical decisions. The presence of a guardian can cause advocates to hesitate to provide services, being unsure how to navigate consent to services, releases of information, and confidentiality when a guardian is in play.

In this webinar we offered foundational information on the basics of guardianship of adults with intellectual disabilities. This included types of guardianship, who guardians are, and the timing and scope of guardianship for adults. We then explored together a few scenarios based on real situations and played “what would you do?” Finally, we offered solutions and paths forward to help service providers better plan for their policies and procedures on guardianship. Watch this informative webinar led by Jannette Brickman of Activating Change. 

Partnering to Bridge the Gaps

No one organization offers all the services survivors with disabilities need in the after-math of violence or possesses all the expertise needed to provide those services in a way that is both trauma and disability-informed. There is little chance that funding is forthcoming to create the type of organization that could handle the full range of services. That’s why victim services and disability organizations across the country are forging collaborations, expanding their understanding of survivors’ needs and combining their resources to create a system of services that is more complete and integrated and that better meets the needs of survivors with disabilities. 
 
For October, we examined how these organizations have come together to bridge the gaps in services for survivors with disabilities and Deaf survivors. We explored how they’ve been able to work through differences in values and approaches to build lasting relationships between their organizations. And, we highlighted some of the promising practices emerging from their work together. Watch this exciting webinar, presented by Sandra Harrell of Activating Change. 

Using Plain Language to Enhance Trauma-Informed Practices

Plain language is a style of writing that is meant to be accessible to many people, especially people with intellectual disabilities. In this webinar, we discussed plain language and its importance to survivors with disabilities and survivors in crisis. Together we explored how plain language impacts trauma-informed practices and survivor outcomes. We focused on strategies for communicating using plain language, with examples and time for practice. Lastly, we explored tools to check for plain language within written documents. Watch this interactive and practical webinar presented by Aquia Pusch from Activating Change.