SERVING

CRIME VICTIMS

WITH DISABILITIES

The Time Is Now

Preparation of this videotape and discussion guide was supported by grantnumber 1999–VF–GX–0008, awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime,Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings,and conclusions expressed in this document are those of the author and do notnecessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Departmentof Justice.

The Office for Victims of Crime is a component of the Office of JusticePrograms, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Assistance, theBureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, and theOffice of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

U.S. Department of JusticeOffice of Justice Programs

810 Seventh Street NW.Washington, DC 20531

John AshcroftAttorney General

Deborah J. DanielsAssistant Attorney General

John W. GillisDirector, Office for Victims of Crime

Office of Justice ProgramsWorld Wide Web Home Page

www.ojp.usdoj.gov

Office for Victims of Crime World Wide Web Home Page

www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc

For grant and funding information, contactU.S. Department of Justice Response Center

1–800–421–6770

OVC Resource Center1–800–627–6872

(TTY 1–877–712–9279)www.ncjrs.org

OVC Training and Technical Assistance Center1–866–682–8822

www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/assist/welcome.html

NCJ 188514

Serving Crime Victims With Disabilities:The Time Is Now

Resources for Change

This information on select national disability

service and advocacy organizations is provided

as a starting point for victim assistance providers who

want to learn more about serving victims of crime who

have disabilities. Many of these organizations have local

chapters or affiliates that can help you find out more

about people with disabilities.You can use this list to

begin developing your own list of local agencies that

are interested in working with you to assist victims

with disabilities.

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OVC Resources

Office for Victims of Crime (OVC)Office of Justice ProgramsU.S. Department of Justice810 Seventh Street NW., Eighth FloorWashington, DC 20531202–307–5983Fax: 202–514–6383Web site: www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc

OVC provides quick and easy access tofunding information, training and techni-cal assistance, publications, skill-buildingtools, and other vital information resourcesto enhance the response to victims ofcrime. Formally established in 1988through an amendment to the Victims of Crime Act of 1984, OVC’s mission has always been to enhance the Nation’scapacity to assist crime victims and pro-vide leadership in changing attitudes,policies, and practices to promote justiceand healing for all victims of crime.OVC provides many of the tools to helpthrough its Resource Center and Trainingand Technical Assistance Center(described below).

A major responsibility of OVC is theadministration of the Crime VictimsFund, which provides formula grants tothe states to help fund their victim assist-ance and compensation programs. Crimevictim compensation programs have beenestablished in every state to help crimevictims cope with crime-related expensessuch as medical costs, mental healthcounseling, lost wages, or funeral andburial costs. Crime victim assistance programs provide important services forcrime victims, including crisis support,referrals to counseling, advocacy within

the criminal justice system, and, in somecases, emergency shelter. For more infor-mation on these programs, please visitthe OVC Web site or contact the OVCResource Center.

OVC Resource Center (OVCRC) P.O. Box 6000Rockville, MD 20849–60001–800–627–6872 or 301–519–5500 (TTY 1–877–712–9279)E-mail: askovc@ojp.usdoj.govTo order publications online:http://puborder.ncjrs.org

OVCRC disseminates comprehensiveinformation and resources for victim service providers and allied professionals,including up-to-date research and statis-tics, victim-related publications, andother information resources and referrals.OVCRC information specialists providetailored responses to requests for help and assist with research.

OVC Training and Technical AssistanceCenter (OVC TTAC) 10530 Rosehaven Street, Suite 400Fairfax,VA 220301–866–OVC–TTAC (1–866–682–8822)Fax: 703–279–4673E-mail:TTAC@ovcttac.orgWeb site: www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/assist/welcome.html

OVC TTAC can help agencies and orga-nizations expand their understanding ofvictims’ issues, assess program needs,and establish sound policies. Help isavailable to identify and secure speakersfor conferences and workshops, providetraining on victims’ issues, find facilitators

General Resources

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The T ime Is Now

ADA Technical Assistance Program

Disability Rights Section, Civil Rights DivisionU.S. Department of Justice950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.Washington, DC 205301–800–514–0301 (TTY 1–800–514–0383)Web site: www.usdoj.gov/crt/drs/drshome.htm

The Americans with Disabilities Act(ADA) Technical Assistance Programof the Disability Rights Section of theU.S. Department of Justice Civil RightsDivision promotes voluntary compliancewith ADA by providing free informationand assistance to businesses, state andlocal governments, people with disabili-ties, and the general public. The technicalassistance program develops and dissemi-nates ADA publications, provides ADAtraining at meetings nationwide, andconducts outreach to broad and targetedaudiences. The program also maintainsthe Disability Rights Section’s ADAWeb site, including the ADA homepage, which provides access to the ADAstatute, regulations, technical assistancematerials, and other information.

Association of University Centers onDisabilities (AUCD)E-mail: doj@uwyo.eduWeb site: http://wind.uwyo.edu/doj

With grant funding from the Office forVictims of Crime (OVC), AUCD (former-ly known as the American Association ofUniversity Affiliated Programs) in coordi-nation with the Wyoming Institute forDisabilities has developed an onlineguide of training resources related tocrime victims with disabilities, the Guideto Resources Focusing on Persons WithDisabilities Who Are Victims of Crime.This resource guide includes an onlinemechanism (a searchable database) thatallows users to provide information tomodify and update the database.

Disability and Business TechnicalAssistance Centers (DBTACs)National Institute on Disability andRehabilitation Research400 Maryland Avenue SW.Washington, DC 20202–2572Voice/TTY: 1–800–949–4232Web site: www.adata.org/dbtac.html

Funded by the U.S. Department ofEducation through the National Instituteon Disability and Rehabilitation Research,the 10 regional DBTACs provide infor-mation, technical assistance, public aware-ness, and training on all aspects of theAmericans with Disabilities Act (ADA).DBTACs also provide online and hardcopy

for focus groups and strategic planningmeetings, and access tools and skill-building activities aimed at helping serv-ice providers work effectively with

crime victims. OVC TTAC offers scheduled trainings developed by OVCgrantees and maintains an annual calen-dar of training events.

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publications about ADA regulations andresources. Advocates can get contactinformation for their local DBTAC on theWeb site or by calling the 800 number.

National Association of Protection andAdvocacy Systems, Inc. (NAPAS)900 Second Street NE., Suite 211Washington, DC 20002202–408–9514 (TTY 202–408–9521)Fax: 202–408–9520E-mail: napas@earthlink.netWeb site: www.protectionandadvocacy.com

NAPAS is a national membership associ-ation of protection advocacy systems andclient assistance programs that works tostrengthen members’ ability to providequality legal and advocacy services.Congressionally mandated, legally baseddisability rights agencies include theProtection and Advocacy System and theClient Assistance Program, which togeth-er provide legal representation, advocacyservices, information, and assistance topeople who have disabilities under federaland state laws. NAPAS maintains a com-prehensive list of the national network ofstate Protection and Advocacy Agenciesfor people with developmental disabilitiesand mental illness and agencies partici-pating in the Client Assistance Program.This list includes all 50 states, as wellas the District of Columbia, AmericanSamoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands,Puerto Rico, Republic of Palau, U.S.Virgin Islands, and Native American special services.

National Council on Independent Living(NCIL)1916 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 209 Arlington,VA 22201703–525–3406 (TTY 703–525–4153)Fax: 703–525–3409E-mail: ncil@ncil.orgWeb site: www.ncil.org

NCIL is a national membership associa-tion for local centers for independent liv-ing (CILs) and people with disabilities.Each CIL is a community-based, nonresi-dential organization rooted in the philoso-phy of self-help that stresses independentliving skills for people with disabilities.NCIL can provide advocates with thecontact information for local CILs aroundthe country.

National Rehabilitation InformationCenter (NARIC)4200 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 202Lanham, MD 207061–800–346–2742 or 301–459–5900 (TTY 301–459–4263)Fax: 301–562–2401 E-mail: naricinfo@heitechservices.comWeb site: www.naric.com

NARIC, funded by the National Instituteon Disability and Rehabilitation Research,provides practitioners and the generalpublic with comprehensive informationand research about many kinds of disabil-ities. Its Web site has an online search-able database, and NARIC informationspecialists provide information and refer-ral, customized database searches, anddocument delivery. Interested peoplemay sign up for NARIC’s free literatureawareness service.

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Blindness and Visual Impairments

American Council of the Blind (ACB)1155 15th Street NW., Suite 1004Washington, DC 20005 1–800–424–8666 or 202–467–5081 Fax: 202–467–5085E-mail: info@acb.orgWeb site: http://acb.org/acb

ACB is a national membership organiza-tion of blind and visually impaired people,including 51 state and regional affiliatesand 20 national special interest and pro-fessional affiliates. The council strives toimprove the well-being of all blind andvisually impaired people. Among its serv-ices are toll-free information and referralson all aspects of blindness, public educa-tion and awareness training, and an annualnational conference.

American Foundation for the Blind(AFB) 11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300New York, NY 100011–800–AFB–LINE (1–800–232–5463) or212–502–7600Fax: 212–502–7777E–mail: afbinfo@afb.netWeb site: http://afb.org

AFB is a leading national resource forpeople who are blind or visually impaired,the organizations that serve them, and the

general public. AFB serves as a one-stopinformation and referral resource andmaintains an online, searchable directoryof organizations that provide services toindividuals who are blind or visually im-paired. Headquartered in New York City,AFB has offices in Atlanta, Chicago,Dallas, and San Francisco and a govern-ment relations office in Washington, D.C.

National Federation of the Blind (NFB)1800 Johnson Street Baltimore, MD 21230 410–659–9314E-mail: nfb@nfb.orgWeb site: www.nfb.org

NFB is a national membership organiza-tion of blind people with affiliates in the50 states, Washington, D.C., and PuertoRico and more than 700 local chapters.NFB acts as a consumer and advocacyorganization and provides public educa-tion, information and referral services,adaptive equipment for the blind, devel-opment and evaluation of technology, andsupport for blind people and their fami-lies. NFB maintains an online directoryof private and government resources andservices for blind and visually impairedpeople at the state and local levels.

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Abused Deaf Women’s AdvocacyServices (ADWAS)2627 Eastlake Avenue EastSeattle,WA 98102–3213TTY: 206–726–009324-hour TTY crisis line: 206–236–3134Fax: 206–726–0017E-mail: adwas@adwas.orgWeb site: www.adwas.org

ADWAS was founded in 1986 by deafwomen to provide services in a sensitiveand healing environment for deaf anddeaf-blind victims of sexual assault and domestic abuse in the Seattle area.ADWAS also coordinates education pro-grams on topics such as positive deaf par-enting, child advocacy and support, andcommunity outreach. With grant fundingfrom the Office for Victims of Crime,ADWAS is working to replicate its pro-gram in 15 cities across the Nation thathave large deaf populations.

National Association of the Deaf (NAD)814 Thayer AvenueSilver Spring, MD 20910–4500301–587–1788 (TTY 301–587–1789)Fax: 301–587–1791E-mail: NADinfo@nad.orgWeb site: www.nad.org

NAD membership includes 51 state anddistrict associations providing programsand activities that include grassroots advo-cacy, captioned media, certification ofAmerican Sign Language interpreters andother professionals who use the languagein their work, deafness-related informa-tion and publications, legal assistance,policy development and research, publicawareness, and youth leadership devel-opment. With funding from the U.S.Department of Education, NAD adminis-ters the Captioned Media Program (CMP),which offers outreach, technical assist-ance, and research to captioning agencies,video producers, and distributors.

Deafness and Hearing Impairments

Developmental Disabilities

The ARC of the United States1010 Wayne Avenue, Suite 650Silver Spring, MD 20910301–565–3842Fax: 301–565–5342E-mail: info@thearc.orgWeb site: www.thearc.org

The ARC is the leading national organi-zation of and for people with mentalretardation and related developmental

disabilities and their families, with nearly1,000 state and local chapters nationwide.Individual chapters provide informationand referral, support for parents of chil-dren with mental retardation, advocacy,services for adults with mental retarda-tion, and recreation opportunities for peo-ple with mental retardation. Advocatescan find contact information for localARC chapters on the Web site or by calling the national headquarters.

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Association of University Centers onDisabilities (AUCD)8630 Fenton Street, Suite 410Silver Spring, MD 20910301–588–8252Fax: 301–588–2842Web site: www.aucd.org

AUCD (formerly American Associationof University Affiliated Programs) is thenational organization that represents morethan 100 disability-related programs atuniversities and medical schools. AUCD’smission is to advance policy and practicefor and with people living with develop-mental and other disabilities, their fami-lies, and communities. AUCD membersform a network of interdisciplinary cen-ters that engage in research, education,and service that further independence,productivity, and full community partici-pation of people with developmental dis-abilities. Advocates can contact thenational center for information on theclosest AUCD-affiliated program.

President’s Committee on MentalRetardation (PCMR)Administration for Children and FamiliesU.S. Department of Health and Human Services370 L’Enfant Promenade SW., Suite 701Washington, DC 20447–0001202–619–0634 Fax: 202–205–9519 E-mail: pcmr@acf.dhhs.govWeb site: www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/pcmr

PCMR acts in an advisory capacity to thePresident and the Secretary of Health andHuman Services on matters relating toprograms and services for people withmental retardation. PCMR has adoptedseveral national goals to better recognizeand uphold the right of all people withmental retardation to enjoy a quality oflife that promotes independence, self-determination, and participation as pro-ductive members of society.

Learning Disabilities

Learning Disabilities Association ofAmerica (LDA)4156 Library Road Pittsburgh, PA 15234–1349 412–341–1515Fax: 412–344–0224E-mail: info@ldaamerica.orgWeb site: www.ldanatl.org

LDA is a national, nonprofit, volunteerorganization with local chapters in each

state that is dedicated to helping peoplewith learning disabilities and supportingendeavors to determine the causes oflearning disabilities. LDA membershipincludes individuals with learning disabil-ities, their families, and the professionalswho work with them. The Web site pro-vides a list of publications and otherresources on learning disabilities.

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National Center for LearningDisabilities (NCLD)381 Park Avenue South, Suite 1401New York, NY 100161–888–575–7373 or 212–545–7510Fax: 212–545–9665Web site: www.ncld.orgNCLD works to increase public aware-ness and understanding of learning

disabilities, conducts educational pro-grams and services that promote research-based knowledge, and provides nationalleadership in shaping public policy. Thecenter maintains an online database ofstate programs that deal with learning disabilities.

Psychological Disabilities

Alzheimer’s Association919 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 1100Chicago, IL 60611–16761–800–272–3900 or 312–335–8700Fax: 312–335–1110 E-mail: info@alz.orgWeb site: www.alz.org

The Alzheimer’s Association is the largestnational voluntary organization dedicatedto conquering Alzheimer’s disease. Itsmission is to provide leadership to elimi-nate Alzheimer’s disease by advancingresearch while enhancing care and sup-port services for individuals with the dis-ease and their families. The associationhas nearly 200 local chapters throughoutthe nation that offer helplines, supportgroups, education, advocacy, and a safe-return program for those with Alzheimer’swho have wandered off and become lost.

National Alliance for the Mentally Ill(NAMI)Colonial Place Three 2107 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 300 Arlington,VA 22201–3042703–524–7600 (TTY 703–516–7227)NAMI Helpline: 1–800–950–NAMI(1–800–950–6264) Fax: 703–524–9094 Web site: www.nami.org

NAMI is a nonprofit support and advoca-cy alliance of organizations and familiesand friends of people with severe mentalillnesses. NAMI has 1,200 state and localaffiliates in the United States. Working onthe local, state, and national levels, NAMIprovides education about mental illnessand works actively to achieve equitableservices for individuals with severe men-tal illness. NAMI maintains a database ofsupport groups and a national toll-freehelpline number for referrals.

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National Mental Health Association(NMHA)1021 Prince StreetAlexandria,VA 22314–2971703–684–7722 (TTY 1–800–433–5959)Fax: 703–684–5968NMHA Resource Center: 1–800–969–NMHA(1–800–969–6642)E-mail: infoctr@nmha.orgWeb site: www.nmha.org

NMHA works to improve the mentalhealth of all Americans and has morethan 340 affiliates nationwide. TheNMHA Resource Center is a nationallyrecognized source for information onmental illnesses and treatments and forreferrals to local treatment services.NMHA can provide individuals withreferrals to more than 7,000 mental health organizations nationwide.

Substance Abuse and Mental HealthServices Administration (SAMHSA) 5600 Fishers LaneRockville, MD 20857301–443–8956E-mail: info@samhsa.govWeb site: www.samhsa.gov

SAMHSA is the federal agency dedicatedto strengthening the Nation’s health carecapacity to provide prevention, diagnosis,and treatment services for substance abuseand mental illness. SAMHSA maintainsseveral clearinghouses (accessible on theWeb site) with information on substanceabuse and mental health topics.

Traumatic Injuries

Brain Injury Association of America(BIA)105 North Alfred StreetAlexandria,VA 22314703–236–6000 Family Helpline: 1–800–444–6443Fax: 703–236–6001Web site: www.biausa.org

The BIA mission is to create a betterfuture through brain injury prevention,research, education, and advocacy. BIAhas chapters in every state and can pro-vide advocates with a national directoryof brain injury rehabilitation services. ItsWeb site is a good source for brain injuryinformation.

National Spinal Cord Injury Association(NSCIA)6701 Democracy Boulevard, Suite 300–9Bethesda, MD 20817301–588–6959Helpline: 1–800–962–9629Fax: 301–588–9414Web site: www.spinalcord.org

NSCIA is dedicated to helping peoplewho suffer from the catastrophic resultsof spinal cord injury and disease. TheWeb site and helpline also provide information about spinal cord injuries.

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NCJ 188514