Building a movement at the intersections.

Ending victimization, criminalization and incarceration of people with disabilities and Deaf people.

 

We believe disability, survivor advocacy, and criminal legal system reform fields play critical roles in securing freedom and safety for people with disabilities and Deaf people. Yet, none of these fields are currently working to systematically address the high rates of victimization, over-policing and over-incarceration of people with disabilities. These fields are disconnected, often mis-aligned, and lack the capacity needed to work together toward collective impact. 

We foster alignment, build capacity, and support greater coordination across these social justice movements to realize our goals of freedom and healing – not harm and punishment - for people with disabilities and Deaf people.

5X People with disabilities are 3 to 5 times more likely than people without disabilities to be victimized

Building Pathways to Safety and Healing

People with disabilities and Deaf people experience victimization at alarming rates: 3 - 5 times higher than people without disabilities. Yet, the vast majority of people with disabilities never receive services to support healing from trauma due to systemic barriers in victim services and disability services.

 
71% Deaf survivors are not able to receive victims services from a Deaf advocate in 71% of states across the country

Expanding Deaf Services and Advocacy

Despite high rates of domestic and sexual violence within Deaf communities, Deaf survivors face systemic barriers that often prevent them from getting the help they need from hearing victim services organizations. For Deaf, by Deaf services - services designed and run by members of Deaf communities - effectively serve Deaf survivors, but they only exist in a small handful of communities across the country.

 
4x People with disabilities are 3 to 4 times more likely than people without disabilities to be incarcerated

Ending Criminalization and Incarceration

People of color with disabilities and Deaf people are arrested and incarcerated in the U.S. at disproportionately high rates. But, disability and Deaf communities have largely been ignored by movements to end mass incarceration. It is time to center people with disabilities and Deaf people, and end their criminalization and mass incarceration.

 
9x people with psychiatric disabilities are nine times more likely to be sexually assaulted in jail or prison

Healing and Dignity Behind and Beyond Bars

For people with disabilities in jail or prison, life is particularly harsh, difficult, and isolating. The impacts of these traumas on people with disabilities who have been incarcerated are far ranging and can last a lifetime. They are especially acute for Black and brown people with disabilities.

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