Disability Rights Content Topic Results

Traumatic Brain Injury and Domestic Violence: Understanding the Intersections

ckeene — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 22:46:03 +0000

Traumatic Brain Injury and Domestic Violence: Understanding the Intersections ckeene Thu, 08/11/2016 - 18:46

Published

June 01, 2014

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is defined as a specific type of damage to the brain that is caused by external physical force and is not present at birth or degenerative. A blow (or blows) to the head, shaking of the brain, loss of oxygen (anoxia), colliding with a stationary object and exposure to blasts can cause a TBI. Based on this definition, the use of physical force by an intimate partner during incidents of domestic violence can cause traumatic brain injury as abusive partners often cause injury to a victim’s head, neck (including strangulation), and face. In one study, 30% of domestic violence survivors reported a loss of consciousness at least once and 67% reported residual problems that were potentially head-injury related (Corrigan, Wolfe, Mysiw, Jackson & Bogner, 2003).

However, TBI often goes undiagnosed amongst domestic violence survivors. One reason for this is that domestic violence survivors, who also have a TBI, may exhibit symptoms that could resemble those of a mental illness, such as depression, anxiety, tension and/or inability to adapt to changing situations. Additionally, DV/TBI survivors may appear to have behavioral issues, including problems with keeping appointments, following through, or completing tasks that require multiple steps.

Anecdotal information from survivors and advocates indicates that victims with TBI are often questioned in regards to their ability to parent. At a training for domestic violence advocates, a TBI survivor as a result of domestic violence shared how she would forget to pick up her daughter from school, which prompted a call to the Child Protective Services agency in her area. Others have talked about the difficulties they experienced while living in congregate settings where following rules was, at times, problematic. These kinds of behaviors are often not intentional and survivors may even appear to be uncooperative and oppositional. However, it is important to keep in mind that many of these perceived behaviors might be directly related to the TBI. Therefore, it is crucial for domestic violence service providers and health care professionals to understand the prevalence and effects of TBI within the context of domestic violence.

This Special Collection offers information about the intersection between domestic violence and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). It provides advocates and other professionals with tools to screen for TBI within the context of domestic violence as well as presentations, articles, and other relevant resources on the topic.

The purpose of this collection is to: 1) increase knowledge and understanding of TBI within the context of domestic violence, 2) provide tools to advocates and other professionals to screen domestic violence survivors for TBI, and 3) highlight best practices.

The NRCDV provides a wide range of free, comprehensive, and individualized technical assistance, training, and specialized resource materials and projects designed to enhance current intervention and prevention strategies. To suggest additional resources we should include in this collection or for ongoing technical assistance and other resources, please contact the NRCDV Technical Assistance Team.

NRCDV Access Initiative: Documenting Our Progress Towards Greater Accessibility

berdman — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 15:11:23 +0000

NRCDV Access Initiative: Documenting Our Progress Towards Greater Accessibility berdman Wed, 11/13/2019 - 10:11

Published

January 01, 2013

Author(s)

Patty Branco

Casey Keene

Be the change we wish to see in the world. That is just what the staff of the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV) had in mind when we launched the “Access Initiative” in 2006. The Initiative represented NRCDV’s organizational commitment –as an employer, service provider, and community member—to individuals with disabilities and accessibility in general.

“The Access Initiative not only made me a better TA Provider, but also a better person.” - NRCDV staff member, 2013

The “ALL Are Welcome Here” poster was created by the Pennsylvania Cross-Systems Advocacy Coalition, supported by Grant No. 2007-FW-AX-K009, awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S Department of Justice. The NRCDV has reproduced this poster with permission, and free copies (in both English and Spanish) are available to the public free of charge upon request. To request copies of this poster, please contact the NRCDV at 1-800-537-2238 or nrcdvTA@nrcdv.org. Several NRCDV staff display this poster in their workspace as a symbol of their commitment to make our organization accessible to all.

Supporting Black Deaf Survivors

berdman — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 17:22:12 +0000

Supporting Black Deaf Survivors berdman Fri, 10/06/2023 - 13:22

General Material

Published Date

March, 2023

Publisher(s)

Activating Change

Black deaf survivors of domestic and/or sexual violence often have to navigate a web of barriers to accessing healing services: programs designed to respond to domestic and sexual violence, for instance, may not have the knowledge or resources to address the needs of Deaf survivors while Deaf programs may not have the knowledge or experience to address survivorship. However, the Deaf community has been working to address this gap in services by developing programs specifically at this intersection. This webinar featured one of those programs, DAWN, which was formed in 1999 in the Washington metropolitan area and has been providing direct support services to women and their families in the Deaf community. Listen to a conversation between Roberta Eaton, DAWN’s Executive Director, and Raven Sutton, Senior Survivor Resource Specialist, as they discuss DAWN’s unique approach to meeting the needs of Black deaf survivors.

Associated Links

Supporting Black Deaf Survivors

Material Categories

Accessibility

Cultural Competence

Disability Rights

Racial Justice

Promising Practices for Serving Domestic Violence Survivors with Disabilities

berdman — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 17:20:07 +0000

Promising Practices for Serving Domestic Violence Survivors with Disabilities berdman Fri, 10/06/2023 - 13:20

General Material

Published Date

October, 2022

Publisher(s)

Activating Change

This webinar featured a panel of experts who explored the unique barriers that people with disabilities have to navigate when seeking healing and the strategies that advocates employ to proactively remove those barriers. Specifically, they explored the civil-legal needs of survivors with disabilities, the needs of survivors who acquire a disability through domestic violence, and the unique needs of Deaf survivors.

Associated Links

Promising Practices for Serving Domestic Violence Survivors with Disabilities

Material Categories

Accessibility

Cultural Competence

Staff Development

Civil Legal Rights & Protections

Disability Rights

Disability

Domestic Violence

Centering Survivors with Disabilities in Your Organizational Policies

berdman — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 17:13:20 +0000

Centering Survivors with Disabilities in Your Organizational Policies berdman Fri, 10/06/2023 - 13:13

General Material

Published Date

August, 2022

Publisher(s)

Activating Change

When survivors with disabilities and Deaf survivors engage with your victim service organization or disability program, they are necessarily engaging with the policies that guide the delivery of your services. Regardless of they type of organization, failure to account for the lived experiences of survivors with disabilities in your organizational polices results in delays in service provision, confusion among staff about what is allowed, safety concerns among survivors, the provision of inadequate or unsafe services, or the denial of services completely.

This two-part webinar series examined key policies that victim service and disability organizations should have in place to account for unique circumstances in the lives of survivors with disabilities, including personal care attendants, service animals and guardianship.

Associated Links

Centering Survivors with Disabilities in Your Organizational Policies

Material Categories

Mistreatment of Adults with Disabilities

berdman — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 12:43:31 +0000

Mistreatment of Adults with Disabilities berdman Tue, 03/14/2023 - 08:43

General Material

Published Date

March, 2022

Publisher(s)

National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA)

This research brief synthesizes the latest available information and research relating to the mistreatment of adults with disabilities (AWD). This brief addresses the intersection of AWD and elder mistreatment. Information is provided on risk factors, national survey findings, intimate partner violence (IPV), adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), barriers to reporting and help-seeking, and recommendations for intervention.

Associated Links

Mistreatment of Adults with Disabilities

Material Categories

Living and Working with Disabilities: Tax Benefits and Credits

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 01:22:21 +0000

Living and Working with Disabilities: Tax Benefits and Credits Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 09/23/2014 - 21:22

General Material

Published Date

May, 2021

Publisher(s)

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

This brochure outlines the various tax deduction, tax credit, and income inclusion programs available to people with disabilities. Information is also included for people with dependents who have disabilities and for employers accommodating employees with disabilities. Available in English and Spanish.

Associated Links

Living and Working with Disabilities: Tax Benefits and Credits

Viviendo y Trabajando con Incapacidades

Material Categories

Financial Literacy / Asset Building

Disability Rights

Economic Justice

Disability

Supporting Deaf & DeafBlind Survivors

berdman — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 17:05:54 +0000

Supporting Deaf & DeafBlind Survivors berdman Tue, 03/14/2023 - 13:05

General Material

Training Tools

Published Date

February, 2021

Publisher(s)

Vera Institute of Justice

Author(s)

Anneliese Brown

Nancy Smith

Raylene Lotz

Deaf people are 1.5-5 times more likely than hearing people to experience domestic and sexual violence. Despite being at greater risk, they face significant barriers to accessing victim services. Many mainstream hearing programs want to serve Deaf survivors, but are often unaware of the unique experiences and cultural values of Deaf survivors and are not prepared to provide sign language interpretation.

This is a series of videos about Deaf and DeafBlind culture, best practices for working with Deaf and DeafBlind survivors, and how to find qualified interpreters. There is also a panel discussion highlighting key factors that contributed to a successful partnership between a hearing and Deaf organization.

Associated Links

Supporting Deaf & DeafBlind Survivors

Material Categories

Why should advocates and preventionists incorporate Disability Justice into their work?

berdman — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 19:08:03 +0000

Why should advocates and preventionists incorporate Disability Justice into their work? berdman Wed, 07/14/2021 - 15:08

General Material

NRCDV Publications

Published Date

December, 2020

Publisher(s)

National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV)

Author(s)

Skylar Kantola

Jody Powers

Cierra Olivia Thomas Williams

People with disabilities matter; that is why Disability Justice matters. In the December 2020 TA Question of the Month, Skylar Kantola, Jody Powers, and Cierra Olivia Thomas Williams explore the intersections of Disability Justice and domestic and sexual violence prevention and advocacy.

See more TAQs on the VAWnet News Blog.

Associated Links

Why should advocates and preventionists incorporate Disability Justice into the…

Material Categories

Prevention Programming

Disability Rights

Disability

Domestic Violence

Supporting Crime Victims with Disabilities Online Training Toolkit

berdman — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 16:01:27 +0000

Supporting Crime Victims with Disabilities Online Training Toolkit berdman Tue, 03/14/2023 - 12:01

General Material

Training Tools

Published Date

October, 2020

Publisher(s)

Vera Institute of Justice

People with disabilities turn to a variety of support systems in the aftermath of victimization, from family and friends to victim services to their local disability service provider or to law enforcement. When those support systems are knowledgeable about the needs of people with disabilities, they can broaden the paths to healing available to victims with disabilities.

The Supporting Crime Victims with Disabilities toolkit was designed to provide comprehensive and culturally responsive informational and educational resources, tools, videos, and examples of best practices for law enforcement, forensic interviewers, victim advocates, and others to prepare them to effectively respond to victims of crime with disabilities across the lifespan. Leveraging the guidance and expertise of representatives from these fields, the toolkit embodies ideals of intersectionality, accessibility, and usability among others. The toolkit includes video testimonials from survivors with disabilities, recorded lectures from professionals across a variety of systems, and interactive activities. You can review the content from beginning to end or select specific topics of interest.

Associated Links

Supporting Crime Victims with Disabilities Online Training Toolkit

Material Categories