C.A. LEADDS Releases New Resources to Improve Services for Survivors with Disabilities

August 18, 2023 |
Priscilla Klassen

In collaboration with The Arc of California, VALOR is proud to present a new series of publications created to help rape crisis centers and disability service providers improve their services for survivors with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).  These publications, created and presented by California Advocates Leading in Engagement, Accessibility and Developmental Disability Services (C.A. LEADDS) are some of the results of a three year OVW grant.

Best Practices for Including Survivors with I/DD  During Mandated Reporting is a step-by-step guide to help disability service providers include survivors in the process of reporting, rather than reporting without an individual’s consent or knowledge which is currently a common practice which can lead to additional trauma. This guide also includes considerations, reminders, sample scripts and resources for mandated reporters.

Along with this guide for support staff, there is also a guide for people with disabilities. Reporting Abuse: Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How is a plain language explanation of the mandated reporting process. It includes many of the details that people with disabilities may not be informed of when accessing services, such as who may be a mandated reporter and what that means. This guide is also available in Spanish and can be used at rape crisis centers as well.

Centering Survivors with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Guide for Navigating Confidentiality and Mandated Reporting for Rape Crisis Centers gives policy and procedure advice for staff and volunteers navigating the laws on reporting and confidentiality. 

Model Accommodations Policy for Survivors & Survivors with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities is a sample policy with guidelines and considerations for providing accommodations and implementing an agency accommodations policy. This can be used in collaboration with the sample intake form which can help advocates when inquiring about access needs for all survivors.