Concluded Project - end date December, 2007

Oregon Violence Against Women with Disabilities Technical Assistance Center

Contact:

Mary Oschwald, Principal Investigator
503-725-9602   oschwald@pdx.edu

Oregon Violence Against Women with Disabilities Technical Assistance Center

Funded by The U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women

Violence against women with disabilities has been identified as a serious health issue that creates barriers to independent living, safety, and personal well-being. Women with disabilities experience intimate partner violence but are also uniquely at risk for abuse by formal and informal caregivers or personal assistance service providers. These paid and unpaid providers may be family members, intimate partners, friends, or professionals. In addition to the types of abuse experienced in general, people with disabilities experience unique types of abuse that are specifically related to their disability and the social context in which they live. Unfortunately, this problem has remained well-hidden and many women with disabilities are unable to access the resources they need to end violence.

The aims of the Oregon Violence Against Women with Disabilities Technical Assistance Center were to (a) increase awareness among domestic violence, disability and abuse investigators and agencies about the nature of violence, stalking and sexual assault experienced by women with disabilities; and (b) build the capacities of these organizations to mobilize and implement accessible Coordinated Community Response Teams throughout Oregon to prevent and end violence against women with disabilities. Key elements of this Violence TA Center included:

•  An Advisory Council that brought together survivors, consumers and leaders from domestic violence organizations, private and public disability organizations and abuse investigation agencies to design and implement Coordinated Community Response Teams and oversaw the activities of the TA Center.

•  Coordination of State-level agencies to provide peer-based training and technical assistance to their respective member programs throughout Oregon and facilitation of cross-training forums, intersecting the skills, knowledge and resources of these participating agencies. The following agencies were involved with the TA Center:

•  State Independent Living Council

•  Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence

•  Self-Advocates As Leaders

•  Office of Consumer/Survivor Technical Assistance

•  Central Oregon Battering and Rape Alliance

•  Office of Investigations and Training

•  Outreach, training, technical assistance, and "mini-grant" funding to 4 communities (Klamath Falls, Ontario, New Port, Portland) mobilized and implemented Coordinated Community Response Teams for addressing, preventing and educating about issues related to women with disabilities who are victims of violence.

•  A clearinghouse of resources, materials and curricula related to ending violence against women with disabilities, including public service announcements, curriculum, and protocols for identifying and reporting abuse, safety planning, accommodations, and working collaboratively across agencies and organizations.

•  Comprehensive dissemination of information and materials through state wide video-conference, a web site, and a statewide conference was also a part of the overall project.