Publications

The Adult Advocacy Centers have published the following documents:

Traumatic Brain Injuries and Crime Victims with Disabilities (8/22/23) - This publication reviews what medical professionals know and understand within the complex world of various traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). It also examines the effects of TBIs on disabilities and explores the victimization and violence that affects individuals with and without disabilities and can lead to a TBI.
Forensic Interviewing vs. Forensic Interviewing Techniques (5/4/23) - Forensic interviews and using forensic interview techniques are two different approaches used in gathering information from alleged crime victims with disabilities, particularly in investigative contexts. While both aim to elicit information in a non-leading manner, there are significant differences in their methods, goals and outcomes.
Forensic Interviewing and the ADA Webinar Flyer 5-4-23 (4/24/23) - A flyer for an upcoming webinar on May 4, 2023.
White Paper - Forensic Interviews and the ADA (4/24/23) - A white paper about the need for universal acceptance of forensic interviews as an accommodation under the ADA for adult disabled victims of crime.
AACs Annual Report 2022 (2/16/23) - Read about our important work in 2022.
Forensic Interviews for Adult Crime Victims with Disabilities (10/26/22) - 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.
The Need for Funding for Disability-Led Victim Service Organizations (9/16/22) - 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.
LGBTQ+ Identity, Disability and Victimization (7/28/22) - 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.
A Guidebook for Immigrants and Refugees with Disabilities (5/31/22) - A guidebook to help immigrants and refugees with disabilities connect to the services and supports they need.
AACs Annual Report 2021 (2/2/22) - Read an overview of the AACs' important work in 2021.
Human Trafficking and Older Adults (1/31/22) - This paper focuses on the largely unrecognized tragedy of the trafficking of older adults for sex, labor or benefits.
Tools for a Survivor's Journey - Who to Contact for Help (11/18/21) - A list of people survivors with disabilities can call if they need help.
Tools for a Survivor's Journey - People with Disabilities Have Rights (11/18/21) - A list of rights people with disabilities have under Ohio law.
Human Trafficking: How to Be Safe Online (11/15/21) - Human trafficking is when someone forces another person to work (labor trafficking) or perform sex acts (sex trafficking) for money. When traffickers look for victims, they look for people they think will be easy to threaten or scare. They try to make that person trust them. Sometimes they use the internet.
Myths about Human Trafficking (11/15/21) - Human trafficking is when someone forces another person to work (labor trafficking) or perform sex acts (sex trafficking) for money. A myth is a wrong belief or idea that a lot of people think is true. Here are some myths about human trafficking.
Signs of Labor Trafficking (11/15/21) - Labor trafficking is when someone forces another person to do a job by threatening them or scaring them.
Signs of Sex Trafficking (11/15/21) - Sex trafficking is when someone forces another person to perform sex acts against their will by threatening them or scaring them.
Adult Advocacy Centers: A Comprehensive Response for Adult Crime Victims with Disabilities (9/20/21) - Consultant Susan Kahan, MA, LCPC, has authored a new white paper that explains the systemic problems the Adult Advocacy Centers are working to solve for adult crime victims with disabilities.
DD Self-Advocacy Groups (7/20/21) - This document is a list of contact information for self-advocacy groups that serve people with developmental disabilities throughout the state.
AACs DD Advocacy Guidebook (7/20/21) - This guidebook was created to provide advocacy information and resources to people with developmental disabilities, professionals and family members.
AACs Overview booklet (6/7/21) - Read about the important work the Adult Advocacy Centers are doing, including trainings, victim advocacy services and working to build our RVs and Centers.
Forensic Interviewing and Victim Advocacy Services for Survivors with Disabilities (5/4/21) - Find out how to get forensic interviewing and victim advocacy services for people with disabilities for your agency in this new brochure.
A Resource Guidebook for Human Trafficking Victims and Survivors with Disabilities (4/23/21) - An Ohio-centered guidebook filled with information to help human trafficking victims and survivors with disabilities get help and support.
AACs Annual Report 2020 (1/28/21) - This past year has been full of unexpected twists and turns due to the ongoing precautions in place for COVID-19. Yet even with all the uncertainties, the Adult Advocacy Centers have been able to forge ahead and make impactful change for crime victims with disabilities throughout Ohio.
Understanding Medical Forensic Exams (12/14/20) - After a crime occurs, victims may choose to undergo a medical forensic examination, in which a forensic nurse examiner (FNE) documents their injuries and gathers evidence that may be used in the prosecution of the crime. This document answers questions about those important exams.
Needs Assessment: Human Trafficking and People with Disabilities (9/25/20) - In an effort to evaluate the services needed for victims of human trafficking with disabilities, the Adult Advocacy Centers (AACs) sent a survey to Ohio’s 24 Anti-Trafficking Coalitions, and 14 coalitions responded. Their responses have been collected in our new report.
A Forensic Nurse Examiner’s Guide to Caring for Patients with Disabilities (9/17/20) - This guide was created to assist Ohio’s Forensic Nurse Examiners (FNEs) as they provide medicalforensic care involving crime victims with disabilities.
Sexual Abuse of Individuals with Disabilities and Adult Advocacy Centers (9/1/20) - The Adult Advocacy Centers and Modell Consulting Group are celebrating the publication of our first academic article, Sexual Abuse of Individuals with Disabilities and Adult Advocacy Centers, in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.
A Guide to Leaving Your Mark Through Legacy Writing and Projects (7/21/20) - The historic nature of the COVID-19 pandemic offers a unique opportunity for reflection, particularly for older adults, who have much to teach us about sacrifice and resilience.
Maintaining Mental Health and Well-Being Among Seniors with Disabilities During the COVID-19 Pandemic (6/23/20) - In this white paper, Adult Advocacy Centers consultant Dr. Diana Spore discusses the need for professionals who work with seniors to focus on providing trauma-informed care and helping them stay connected. The paper also includes a helpful resource guide.
COVID-19 Needs Assessment (5/14/20) - In April, the Adult Advocacy Centers sent out a survey to assess just how much the COVID-19 pandemic was affecting the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Ohio. A total of 134 people responded, and the results have been gathered in this report.
Assisted Safety Planning Guidebook (5/1/20) - The Adult Advocacy Centers (AACs) have created this guidebook for advocates to use when helping individuals with disabilities as they create a safety plan.
Self-Directed Safety Planning Guidebook (5/1/20) - The Adult Advocacy Centers (AACs) have created Safety Planning Questions and a My Safety Plan form for people with disabilities. Although safety planning cannot guarantee safety, creating a plan may empower the planner to take action if they do not feel safe.
Acronyms and Terminology (3/9/20)
Frequently Asked Questions about Multi-Disciplinary Teams (MDTs) (3/9/20)
Understanding the AACs’ Staff and MDTs �" Service Providers (3/9/20)
How Multi-Disciplinary Teams (MDTs) Can Help When You’re a Victim of Crime with Disabilities (3/9/20)
Understanding the AACs’ Staff and MDTs �" Community (3/9/20)
Prosecutor’s Guide for Crimes Involving Victims with Disabilities (2/21/20) - This guide was created to assist Ohio’s prosecutors as they prosecute cases involving crime victims with disabilities.