Publication

 November 2015

Measuring Capacity to Serve Survivors with Disabilities Performance Indicators

Evaluating Capacity Sq

Overview

Using performance indicators, this one-of-a-kind resource relies on Vera’s Center on Victimization and Safety’s 10 years of experience at the intersection of violence and disability to help practitioners—from disability organizations, domestic violence programs, rape crisis centers, and dual agencies—measure their organizations’ capacity to serve survivors with disabilities against field standards. The indicators help practitioners track progress towards specific goals and refine their capacity-building efforts to better meet those goals over time. They also draw upon data and resources that organizations typically have access to and provide step-by-step information on implementation, including how to collect, analyze, and interpret their data.

Key Takeaway

This practical tool meets the growing need for straightforward and cost-effective ways for disability organizations, domestic violence programs, rape crisis centers, and dual programs that address domestic and sexual violence to track their progress in serving survivors of domestic and sexual violence who have disabilities.

Publication Highlights

  • The indicators in this guide give organizations a first-of-its-kind comprehensive tool to track and improve their capacity to serve people with disabilities who have experienced domestic and sexual violence, as well as step-by-step instructions for implementation the indicators.

  • The indicators measure an organizations level of commitment to addressing domestic and sexual violence against people with disability and to what extent it has the capacity (knowledge, skills, and resources) required to do so.

  • The indicators are designed to be measured every six months so providers can track their progress and make adjustments as needed to maximize the impact of their capacity-building efforts.

Key Facts

Research has shown that people with disabilities experience violent victimization —including rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault— at rates 2.5 times higher than people without disabilities.
People with disabilities routinely face barriers to help when reaching out to services, from staff members not knowing how to respond to limited to no connections with local victim services organizations who could help if referrals were made.
There is a dearth of information about whether current reform efforts to address the gaps in service are effective.