Just Ask: How Advocates, Law Enforcement, and Attorneys Can Better Meet the Needs of Crime Victims with Disabilities Anneliese Brown, Vera Institute of Justice March 24, 2020 National Center for Reaching Victims: Helping those who help others Objectives Ą Understand the need to ask every victim if they need accommodations Ą Feel more comfortable asking Ą Know what organizations need to do to prepare to provide accommodations Ą Understand how the toolkit can help you achieve these objectives Increased Risk of Violence Adults with disabilities are 3 times more likely to experience violent victimization, including rape, sexual assault, aggravated assault, and robbery. icon of a person with 3 times on their chest Erika Harrell, Crime Against Persons with Disabilities, 2009Đ2014 -Statistical Tables (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2016). Increased Risk of Violence (2) Deaf women are 1.5 times more likely to be a victim of sexual harassment, sexual assault, psychological abuse, & physical abuse. icon of a person with 1.5 times on their chest Erika Harrell, Crime Against Persons with Disabilities, 2009Đ2014 -Statistical Tables (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2016). Supports are out of reach 13% victims with disabilities who received assistance from non-police victim services agencies Barriers to services & systems Physical, programmatic, communication, and attitudinal barriers for people with disabilities and Deaf people exist at: a hand holding a hear symbol for victim advocates Victim Services a sheriff badge symbol for law enforcement Law Enforcement a judges scale symbol for courts and attorneys Courts Providing access Federal law requires government agencies and p laces of public accommodation to ensure their responses and services are accessible to victims with disabilities and Deaf victims. This can be achieved through: Architectural access to buildings Providing aids and services necessary for effective communication Modifying policies, practices, and procedures What are accommodations Accommodations are changes professionals make to the way they do things so that a person with a disability or a Deaf person can participate in services or the legal process, such as: Getting a sign language interpreter Providing a person with equipment, like a portable ramp Doing something to support the person, like reading forms outloud. Discussion question How do you find out if someone needs an accommodation? Universal screening Best practice is to ask everyone if they need accommodations. Why? Ą Some disabilities are not obvious/visible Ą Past discrimination/denial of requests Ą Some people do not know that they have a right to receive accommodations Why Ask Everyone? ŇPretty much most of my disabilities are hidden. ItŐs harder to recognize I have something. But I have gaps of missing information that you wonŐt know if you didnŐt ask.Ó Why Ask Everyone? (2) ŇI get stuck trying to do it myself when they want me to do multiple tasks at once. I donŐt usually ask for help.Ó How did the toolkit get started? Ą Set out to answer the question, How do I ask? Ą Pulled together a group of national experts, including people with disabilities and Deaf people and advocates for people with disabilities and Deaf people Ą Created Just Ask: A Toolkit to Help Advocates, Attorneys, and Law Enforcement Meet the Needs of Crime Victims with Disabilities Foundational principles (1) Ą Create a comparable experience: Ą ŇMany people with disabilities want to have the same or similar experience as someone without a disability.Ó Ą Be welcoming and inclusive Ą Normalize needs and experiences Foundational principles (2) Ą ŇNothing about us without usÓ: Work in partnership with the person Ą Full participation Ą Disability is just one piece of a personŐs identity Ą Toolkit design: short, easy-to-use tools Ask everyone and ask often Ą Universal screening for accommodations Ą When? Ą First interaction Ą Every new step in process/new activity Ą Why ask often? Ą Build trust Ą Needs may change over time Steps to providing accommodations Ą Step 1: Set the stage. Ą Step 2: Ask & listen. Ą Step 3: Provide Accommodations. Ą Step 4: Check in and make changes. Step 1: Set the stage Explain why you are asking about accommodations. Step 1 Ą Describe the process/services, for example: Ą Making a police report Ą Participating in support group Ą Going to court Ą Filing out paperwork Step 2: Ask and listen Step 2 Ą Ask every victim if they need accommodations Ą Give examples Ą Listen to the person Đ do not assume you know what works best for someone Remember: you are working with the person, not for the person. Examples of how to ask Ą ŇIs there anything I can do to make it easier for you to participate in services?Ó Ą ŇAre there any changes or modifications we can make to the way we do things so you can fully participate?Ó three people talking around a table More examples of how to ask Ą ŇDo you need any accommodations to fully participate in services?Ó two people exchanging questions and information Ą If possible, be more specific. For example, ŇDo you need any additional supports to read & understand the paperwork?Ó Tone matters Ą Your tone can impact a personŐs willingness to share their needs with you. Ą Be curious about the personŐs needs. Ą Avoid using a patronizing tone. Step 3. Provide accommodations Step 3 Ą As soon as possible Đ some people may not be able to stay safe without them Ą Cover the costs Step 4. Check in and make changes Step 4 After providing an accommodation, check with the person to see how it is going. Ą Is the person able to fully participate in services? Ą If not, what would work better? Preparing to provide accommodations Ą Develop or revise an accommodations policy Ą Budget for accommodations Ą Develop partnerships Ą Train staff Ą Monitor and re-assess a pencil and a written policy a calculator and pencil for budgeting two people talking: a supervisor and staff The toolkit: Desk cards Screen shots of the Law Enforcement desk card, page 1 and 2 26 Guide to providingaccommodations Screen shots of the Victim Advocates accommodations guide, page 1 and 2 27 Recommendations for agencies/offices Screen shots of the Prosecutors and legal office recommendations for agencies/office, page 1 and 2 28 Tip sheet: Examples Screen shots of the accommodations tip sheet, page 2 and 5 29 Videos Screen shot of the victim advocate acccommodations video Alex, the counselor, and Keith, the client are sitting in a counseling room talking about accommodations. Alex asks Keith how he's doing. 30 Resources Ą Download the toolkit. Ą Reach out with questions/for assistance with implementing the toolkit: Ą Email Anneliese Brown at abrown@vera.org Anneliese Brown, portrait