PROJECT ILLUMINATION

A statewide collaboration to promote awareness of sexual violence

towards people with disabilities

Statewide Statewide ResourcesResources

Pennsylvania Coalition Against Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR)Rape (PCAR)

The mission of the Pennsylvania The mission of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape is to work to Coalition Against Rape is to work to eliminate all forms of sexual violence eliminate all forms of sexual violence and to advocate for the rights and and to advocate for the rights and needs of victims of sexual assault.needs of victims of sexual assault.

Hotline: 1-888-772-PCAR Hotline: 1-888-772-PCAR

http://www.pcar.org/index.shtml/http://www.pcar.org/index.shtml/

Disability Rights Network of PA Disability Rights Network of PA (DRNPA)(DRNPA)

The mission of Disability Rights Network of PA is to provide advocacy in a culturally competent manner for eligible individuals to obtain the rights and benefits to which they are entitled.

1-800-692-74431-800-692-7443

http://www.drnpa.orghttp://www.drnpa.org

The Arc of PennsylvaniaThe Arc of Pennsylvania

Provides Advocacy & Resources for Provides Advocacy & Resources for Citizens with cognitive, intellectual Citizens with cognitive, intellectual and developmental disabilities with and developmental disabilities with 37 local chapters statewide.37 local chapters statewide.

1-800-692-72581-800-692-7258

www.thearcpa.orgwww.thearcpa.org

The Institute on Disabilities at The Institute on Disabilities at Temple UniversityTemple University

In partnership with people with disabilities, families and In partnership with people with disabilities, families and allies from diverse cultures, we work to change systems allies from diverse cultures, we work to change systems so that people can live, learn, work and play in the so that people can live, learn, work and play in the communities of their choice. The Institute in Disabilities communities of their choice. The Institute in Disabilities is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities in their pursuit of interdependence, contribution and in their pursuit of interdependence, contribution and inclusion. This mission is accomplished through training inclusion. This mission is accomplished through training , technical assistance, services and supports, research, , technical assistance, services and supports, research, dissemination, and advocacy.dissemination, and advocacy.

1-215-204-13561-215-204-1356

http://disabilities.temple.edu/http://disabilities.temple.edu/

The Office of Mental Health The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and Substance Abuse Services

(OMHSAS)(OMHSAS) The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse

Services, in collaboration with other appropriate Services, in collaboration with other appropriate state offices, will ensure local access to a state offices, will ensure local access to a comprehensive array of quality mental health comprehensive array of quality mental health and substance abuse services that are reflective and substance abuse services that are reflective of the needs of Pennsylvania citizens, effectively of the needs of Pennsylvania citizens, effectively managed and coordinated, and responsive to a managed and coordinated, and responsive to a dynamic and changing health care environment.dynamic and changing health care environment.

Central Region Office (717) 214-9076 Central Region Office (717) 214-9076 http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/

Pennsylvania Office of Pennsylvania Office of Developmental Programs Developmental Programs

(ODP)(ODP) Provides a wide array of services and Provides a wide array of services and

support for people with mental support for people with mental retardation.retardation.

1-888-565-94351-888-565-9435

www.dpw.state.pa.us/mentalretardatiowww.dpw.state.pa.us/mentalretardationservicesnservices

Staying SafeStaying Safe

A Presentation of Project A Presentation of Project IlluminationIllumination

More importantly…More importantly…

Who are you?Who are you?

What we’re about to talk What we’re about to talk about…about…

Isn’t easyIsn’t easyIsn’t funIsn’t funMay be difficultMay be difficult

If you need to leave, please do so. If you need to leave, please do so. If you need to talk, see me after the If you need to talk, see me after the

program.program.

Did you know?Did you know?

Learning about sexual Learning about sexual violence…violence…

A Brief QuizA Brief Quiz

1 in ____ women and 1 in ____men 1 in ____ women and 1 in ____men will be sexually assaulted after will be sexually assaulted after the age of 18.the age of 18.

a) 50 and 100a) 50 and 100b) 20 and 64b) 20 and 64c) 10 and 40c) 10 and 40d) 6 and 33d) 6 and 33

Tjaden, Patricia and Thoennes, Nancy, November 1998. Tjaden, Patricia and Thoennes, Nancy, November 1998. Prevalence, Incidence, and Consequences of Violence Against Prevalence, Incidence, and Consequences of Violence Against Women: Findings from the National Violence Against Women Women: Findings from the National Violence Against Women SurveySurvey. Washington, D.C.: National Institute of Justice, Office of . Washington, D.C.: National Institute of Justice, Office of the Justice Programs, US Department of Justice. the Justice Programs, US Department of Justice.

Nearly ____ in 10 rape and Nearly ____ in 10 rape and sexual assault victims sexual assault victims knew their attacker.knew their attacker. a) 3a) 3

b) 5b) 5

c) 7c) 7

d) 9d) 9

Rennison, Callie, “Criminal Victimization 1999: Changes 1998-99 with Rennison, Callie, “Criminal Victimization 1999: Changes 1998-99 with Trends 1993-99”, Bureau of Justice Statistics, US Department of Trends 1993-99”, Bureau of Justice Statistics, US Department of Justice, August 2000.Justice, August 2000.

1 in ____ girls and 1 in ____ boys 1 in ____ girls and 1 in ____ boys will be sexually assaulted by will be sexually assaulted by

the age of 18.the age of 18.a) 10 and 30a) 10 and 30b) 6 and 14b) 6 and 14c) 4 and 6c) 4 and 6d) 2 and 5d) 2 and 5

Finkelhor, David, Hotaling, G., Lewis, I., Smith, C. “Sexual Abuse in a National Finkelhor, David, Hotaling, G., Lewis, I., Smith, C. “Sexual Abuse in a National Survey of Adult Men and Women: Prevalence, Characteristics, and Risk Survey of Adult Men and Women: Prevalence, Characteristics, and Risk Factors.” Factors.” Child Abuse and NeglectChild Abuse and Neglect, Vol. 14, pp. 19-28, 1990., Vol. 14, pp. 19-28, 1990.

Only ____% of total rape/sexual assaults Only ____% of total rape/sexual assaults were reported to police. Rape or sexual were reported to police. Rape or sexual assault was the violent crime least assault was the violent crime least often reported to law enforcement. often reported to law enforcement.

a.) 45a.) 45

b.) 28b.) 28

c.) 20c.) 20

Rennison, Callie. June 2001. Rennison, Callie. June 2001. National Crime Victimization Survey: Criminal National Crime Victimization Survey: Criminal Victimization 2000 Changes 1999-2000 with Trends 1993-2000Victimization 2000 Changes 1999-2000 with Trends 1993-2000.. Washington, D.C.: Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Washington, D.C.: Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice. Justice.

The chances that a woman will The chances that a woman will develop Post Traumatic develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after Stress Disorder (PTSD) after being raped are between being raped are between ____% and ____%.____% and ____%.

a)a) 20 and 5020 and 50

b)b) 15 and 3015 and 30

c)c) 50 and 9550 and 95

____ to ____% of women with ____ to ____% of women with developmental disabilities will be developmental disabilities will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime, sexually assaulted in their lifetime, 50% higher than the rest of the 50% higher than the rest of the population population

a.) 37--54a.) 37--54

b.) 50--75b.) 50--75

c.) 68--83 c.) 68--83

U.S. Department of Justice, 1998U.S. Department of Justice, 1998

This is 50% This is 50% higher than the higher than the rest of the rest of the populationpopulation

Of that number, forty-nine percent will Of that number, forty-nine percent will experience ____ or more abusive experience ____ or more abusive incidents.incidents.

a.) 3a.) 3

b.) 7b.) 7

c.) 10c.) 10

Valenti-Hein & Schwartz, 1995Valenti-Hein & Schwartz, 1995

___ to ____ percent of abusers are ___ to ____ percent of abusers are

known and trusted by the victim who known and trusted by the victim who

has developmental disabilities has developmental disabilities

a.) 97 to 99a.) 97 to 99b.) 60 to 70b.) 60 to 70c.) 30 to 50c.) 30 to 50

Baladerian, 1991Baladerian, 1991

Only _____ percent of sexual abuse cases Only _____ percent of sexual abuse cases involving people with developmental involving people with developmental disabilities will ever be reported.disabilities will ever be reported.

a.) 3a.) 3

b.) 12b.) 12

c.) 17c.) 17

Valenti-Hein & Swartz, 1995Valenti-Hein & Swartz, 1995

What do we know about What do we know about sexual violence?sexual violence?

Think of the last news story you Think of the last news story you heard involving sexual violenceheard involving sexual violence

What do you recognize in these What do you recognize in these stories?stories?

What could make people with What could make people with disabilities more vulnerable disabilities more vulnerable

to sexual violence?to sexual violence?

Any thoughts?Any thoughts?

Some reasons…Some reasons…

Respect for authorityRespect for authority

Lack of autonomy due to care givingLack of autonomy due to care giving

Not taught boundaries or unsure of Not taught boundaries or unsure of boundaries due to care givingboundaries due to care giving

Taught not to say noTaught not to say no

What if it assault does What if it assault does occur?occur?

No one can promise that a sexual No one can promise that a sexual assault can be prevented, but…… assault can be prevented, but…… The risk of sexual assault can be The risk of sexual assault can be reduced by: reduced by:

Telling the offender NO Telling the offender NO - NO- NOGetting AwayGetting Away - GO- GOTelling someone Telling someone - TELL- TELL

DisclaimerDisclaimer

So who can prevent sexual So who can prevent sexual violence?violence?

Only perpetrators!!!Only perpetrators!!!

Signs and symptoms of sexual Signs and symptoms of sexual abuseabuse

Emotional reactions

Physical reactions

Social responses

Sexual disturbances

Psychological Psychological reactionsreactions

Physical Physical problemsproblems

Social responsesSocial responses

Sexual Sexual disturbancesdisturbances

Post Traumatic Post Traumatic Stress DisorderStress Disorder

What else?What else?

If the assault was within 72 hours, go If the assault was within 72 hours, go to the hospital for a rape exam.to the hospital for a rape exam.

If the assault was after three days If the assault was after three days but still recent, go to the hospital for but still recent, go to the hospital for medical treatment.medical treatment.

Tell the police.Tell the police. Call a rape crisis center for support.Call a rape crisis center for support.

Where is the rape crisis Where is the rape crisis center in your community?center in your community?

What services do they What services do they provide?provide?

Pennsylvania’s Sexual Violence Pennsylvania’s Sexual Violence CentersCenters

52 sexual violence centers serving all 67 52 sexual violence centers serving all 67 countiescounties Court, medical and legal accompanimentCourt, medical and legal accompaniment

Crisis interventionCrisis intervention Long- and short-term counseling for groups Long- and short-term counseling for groups

and individualsand individuals Assistance with filing for Victims Assistance with filing for Victims

CompensationCompensation Hotline accessible 24 hours a day/7 days a Hotline accessible 24 hours a day/7 days a

weekweek Prevention educationPrevention education Multi-disciplinary victim assistance teamsMulti-disciplinary victim assistance teams

Keep in mind…Keep in mind…

Victims with disabilities sometimes Victims with disabilities sometimes recant because the process of telling recant because the process of telling is scary and traumaticis scary and traumatic

Just because the police and/or district Just because the police and/or district attorney don’t take the case, doesn’t attorney don’t take the case, doesn’t mean it didn’t happenmean it didn’t happen

A Guide for Friends, Family & A Guide for Friends, Family & Care Providers of Sexual Care Providers of Sexual

Violence Survivors who have Violence Survivors who have DisabilitiesDisabilities

How sexual violence is different for How sexual violence is different for people with disabilities in green people with disabilities in green boxesboxes

Great tool for working with victims Great tool for working with victims and understanding sexual violenceand understanding sexual violence

THANK YOU!!!THANK YOU!!!

Karla VierthalerKarla Vierthaler

Pennsylvania Coalition Against RapePennsylvania Coalition Against Rape

1-800-692-7445, ext. 1251-800-692-7445, ext. 125

kvierthaler@pcar.orgkvierthaler@pcar.org