People with disabilities have always had a voice. We’re just teaching the world different ways to listen.
A disability victim services agency

Black man in wheelchair with Black woman and white girl in hallways

Expand Your Knowledge

Find all Adult Advocacy Centers publications by category Learn More >

Asian woman on laptop with coffee and notebook feature

Take a Training

Choose the right disability-focused class for you and register online Learn More >

Older White Woman Sitting

Read the Latest

Stay up to date on AACs news and find a fresh perspective on our blog Learn More >

Who We Are

The Adult Advocacy Centers exist to teach the world how to hear what people with disabilities have to say—particularly when they are victims of crime or abuse. We are a disability-led national organization piloting our groundbreaking programs in Ohio. 

Plans are in motion to develop regional permanent centers and fully outfitted RV mobile units throughout the state, each providing space for a multi-disciplinary team. These teams will include law enforcement, prosecutors, medical staff, victim advocates, mental health specialists, forensic interviewers and representatives from each of Ohio’s disability-specific agencies. This model is the first of its kind anywhere in the world. Read about the Adult Advocacy Centers' model

Learn More  >

 

Virtual Training

Find an ADEPT Virtual Training

ADEPT trainings—Advocacy and Disability-Focused Education for Professionals and Teams—are designed to teach professionals how to make appropriate accommodations when working with crime victims with disabilities.

Learn More >
Virtual Training

What’s New

11/22/22 NEW
White disabled woman designer draws at computer with coworker 600x600

The Need for More Disability Leadership: Conclusion

More >
11/18/22 NEW
Woman working at computer in dim room 600x600

Talking About Invisible Disabilities: Symptoms and Accommodations

More >
11/15/22 NEW
Leigha Shoup screenshot Daytime Columbus interview

Watch the AACs Interview on Daytime Columbus

More >

Recent Publications

Black woman with ID sitting at dinner table with family 600x600 crop

Forensic Interviews for Adult Crime Victims with Disabilities

Disabled adults are adults, not eternal children. Treating adult crime victims with disabilities the same as child crime victims is undignified, unfair and detrimental to the goal of providing equitable justice and equal access to services.

Download >
Woman with DD smiles and gestures in power wheelchair 600x600

The Need for Funding for Disability-Led Victim Service Organizations

A new white paper from the Adult Advocacy Centers discusses the need for a more inclusive and representative funding model that includes disability-led victim services organizations and supports all types of victims with disabilities.

Download >
Black nonbinary person at restaurant 600x600

LGBTQ+ Identity, Disability and Victimization

Our new white paper explores how LGBTQ+ identities intersect with disabilities, discusses the higher levels of victimization for these groups and suggests ways to better serve them.

Download >
Latinx woman with dwarfism sitting on bench 600x600

A Guidebook for Immigrants and Refugees with Disabilities

A guidebook to help immigrants and refugees with disabilities connect to the services and supports they need.

Download >
Older Asian woman in wheelchair being embraced by younger Asian woman 600x600

AACs Annual Report 2021

Read an overview of the AACs' important work in 2021.

Download >
Older white woman on couch holding the hands of an aide 600x600

Human Trafficking and Older Adults

This paper focuses on the largely unrecognized tragedy of the trafficking of older adults for sex, labor or benefits.

Download >

Ways to Support

Make a Donation

The Adult Advocacy Centers are revolutionary in the field of crime victim services. We need allies like you to help us to build our centers, outfit our mobile RV, hire our expertly trained staff and get our new programs off the ground. 

Learn More >

What Your Gift Supports

We're raising money for something no one has ever done before: a mobile RV unit and regional centers to provide critical services for adult crime victims with disabilities.

Learn More >

Fundraising

Help us help Ohioans with disabilities by creating your own fundraising campaign. Learn how to set up a Facebook fundraiser or send us your own creative ideas.

Learn More >