The Initiative’s outreach program is focused on making state resources accessible to victims of abuse who are persons with disabilities. With this mission in mind, our outreach focuses on victim service organizations, disability organizations, the criminal justice system, and any other miscellaneous groups that work with victims of abuse, persons with disabilities, or both. Our trainings are tailored to your organization’s needs, and are always designed to be lively and engaging.

Click on one of the four categories below to learn more about what trainings The Initiative can offer!

COMMUNITY-BASED VICTIM SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS

1 in 5 Americans have a disability, making it crucial for victim services to be inclusive of the disability community. But what does it mean to have accessible services? How serious is the prevalence of abuse against people with disabilities? What even is a disability? Our trainings for community-based victim service organizations can cover a wide variety of topics that are individualized for your needs, including:

  • ADA compliance
  • Disability education 101
  • How to communicate with/advocate for persons with disabilities
  • Ableism in advocacy
  • Power and control tactics against persons with disabilities
DISABILITY ORGANIZATIONS

If you work with individuals with disabilities, the unfortunate reality is that at some point you will probably encounter a client who is trapped in an abusive situation. Whether it’s a case of intimate partner violence, domestic abuse, or caregiver abuse, abusive situations are extremely complex and can seem overwhelming to handle. What can you do to best serve the client? Are you mandated to report? How can you tell if the abuse is actually happening? Our trainings for disability organizations are focused on understanding and responding to abusive behavior, including topics like:

  • Domestic Violence and Abuse 101
  • Signs of abuse
  • How to serve or respond to a victim of abuse
  • Resources and referrals to domestic violence organizations and shelters
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

Whether you’re a judge, a systems-based victim advocate, a police officer, or any other role within the criminal justice system, it’s inevitable that at some point you will work with someone with a disability. Making up one-fifth of the U.S. population, people with disabilities experience a wide range of disabilities and therefore have a wide range of needs. The Initiative’s trainings for members of the criminal justice system are largely focused on communication and disability education, including topics like:

  • What is a disability?
  • What are different categories and examples of disability?
  • How to communicate with persons with disabilities, especially if they are in crisis
  • Creating safety when responding to abuse cases involving persons with disabilities
  • Making services accessible under the ADA
GENERAL PUBLIC

Not a victim service provider, member of the criminal justice system, or a disability organization? Not a problem! The Initiative is dedicated to raising awareness on disability and abuse to anyone and everyone who is interested. Topics we can train you on include:

  • Disability 101
  • Domestic Violence 101
  • The intersection of disability and abuse
  • ADA compliance
 
Book a Training

Need training on a topic you don’t see here? For more information on how The Initiative can individualize a training to your needs, contact our Development Director, Madisson Bednark

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