Breaking the Silence on Crime Victims with Disabilities in the United States Joint Statement by National Council on Disability Association of University Centers on Disabilities National Center for Victims of Crime

The National Council on Disability (NCD) is an independent federal agency that makes recommendations to the President and Congress to enhance the quality of life for all Americans with disabilities and their families. NCD's overall purpose is to promote policies, programs, practices, and procedures that guarantee equal opportunity for all individuals with disabilities, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability; and to empower individuals with disabilities to achieve economic self- sufficiency, independent living, and inclusion and integration into all aspects of society.

Founded in 1985, the National Center for Victims of Crime is the nation’s leading resource and advocacy organization for victims of crime. Our mission is to forge a national commitment to help victims of crime rebuild their lives. National Crime Victim Helpline/1-800-FYI-CALL—Our Helpline provides one-on-one support to help victims understand the impact of crime, access victim compensation, develop safety plans, navigate the criminal justice and social service systems, learn about their legal rights and options, and find the most appropriate local services.

The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) is the central office representing member UCEDDs, LEND Projects, and DDRCs, and is their representative to the federal government and constituent organizations and agencies. The mission of AUCD is to nurture, support, and assist member programs in their endeavor to enhance the quality of life for persons with developmental disabilities through interdisciplinary training, exemplary service, technical assistance, dissemination of information, and research.

Breaking the Silence on Crime Victims with Disabilities in the United States The ultimate goal of this partnership is to foster greater public awareness about crime victims with disabilities and to forge a national commitment to better serve this particularly vulnerable population.

Crime Victims with Disabilities Children with a reported disability are 68 percent more likely to be victims of maltreatment than children with no reported disability. Women with developmental disabilities are at a 4 to 10 times greater risk than the general population for sexual assault. More than one-fourth of persons with severe mental illness were victims of a violent crime in the past year, a rate more than 11 times that of the general population. 15,000 to 19,000 people with developmental disabilities are raped each year in the United States.

Legislation Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 Fair Housing Act (as amended in 1988) Crime Victims with Disabilities Awareness Act

Breaking the Silence Strategy Steps Public Education Research Public Policy Programs and Services National Leadership

Public Education Raise awareness of persons with disabilities victimized by crime: circumstances needs

Research Engage in national research: establish the prevalence understand consequences identify best practices for services identify best practices for prevention

Public Policy Adopt public policies that integrate needs of crime victims with disabilities: federal state local services

Programs and Services Improve: number of available services access to appropriate services

National Leadership Foster the development of leaders: represent victims with disabilities serve as agents of change

Contact National Council on Disability (202) Voice (202) TTY Association of University Centers on Disability (301) National Center for Victims of Crime (202) TTY