Alliance to End Sexual Violence in Long Term Care
Advocating for and promoting the effective support of survivors of sexual assault who have disabilities and live in long term care environments.
DRW and partners built the Alliance to End Sexual Violence in Long-Term Care.
This network:
- Promotes effective support and response to sexual assault survivors in long-term care;
- Reforms the long-term care sexual assault response system; and
- Trains advocates to more fully understand disability, long-term care and sexual assault.
Partners are Disability Rights Washington, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, the Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs, API Chaya, the Arc of King County, the Developmental Disability Ombuds, and an advisory long-term care resident workgroup.
Podcast
The Alliance’s Podcast and accompanying slideshow features long-term care residents talking about their sexual violence experiences and targeted oppression against people with disabilities, Black/Indigenous/People of Color, seniors, youth, and lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender/queer+ communities. (Content warning).
Download podcast here.
Length: 51:49
Recorded in Seattle, WA, August, 2019.
Trusted Person App
Trusted Person is a phone app that supports advocates who respond to abuse disclosure.
Download Google app here.
Download iPhone app here.
Unfortunately, many people experience sexual violence. Survivors of sexual violence need a “trusted person” to get the support they need after abuse, especially when they want to disclose.
A “trusted person” is someone you can trust, someone you can talk to about sexual violence or any other kind of abuse. This app is designed for the trusted person, the individual who responds to abuse disclosure.
Even those with lots of advocacy experience can find abuse disclosure difficult or disorienting. The app provides prompts and resources so a trusted person can check to make sure key steps are covered and relevant resources are available for an abuse survivor.
The app may be used before or after abuse disclosure, as a checklist, or it can be used with the survivor as abuse is being disclosed. The app may also be used as a debrief aid for the trusted person, if no one else is immediately available to talk to, as it offers resources for secondary or vicarious trauma. The app is not a substitute for local, professional training. Rather, is designed to offer additional support.
Related Links
The Arc of King County’s Healthy Relationship Program:
A Relationships and Sexuality Resource Line for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, and community members to ask confidential questions and receive support around healthy relationships and sexuality issues, and a 10-week Healthy Relationships School Program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities in 18-21 year-old Transition Programs throughout King County.
NPR Special Series: Abused and Betrayed:
NPR’s series about the epidemic of sexual assault against people with intellectual disabilities.
NICL Sex Ed for People with I/DD:
The National Council on Independent Living partnered with Rooted in Rights to produce the a video series and discussion guide on Sex Ed for People with intellectual/developmental disabilities.
Video series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuEvYNNQ-dHeVhbyeJHx9s8oqsvBk621v
Discussion guide: https://ncil.org/sex-ed-for-individuals-with-i-dd/