Associate Professor University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Persons with disabilities experience violent crime at significantly higher rates but face numerous barriers to seeking help. This study explores differences in reporting behaviors, identifying key challenges such as lack of accessibility and distrust in formal institutions. Findings call for disability-conscious changes in services to ensure equitable access to justice.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this session, attendees should be able to:
1) Compare formal and informal help-seeking behaviors between victims of violent crime with and without disabilities.
2) Analyze the key obstacles persons with disabilities face when reporting violent crime.
3) Identify practitioner strategies to improve accessibility, trust, and support in victim services for persons with disabilities who experience violent crime.
