DPPC Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) through the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance to create a Sexual Assault Response Unit comprised of Protective Service Navigators and Peer Support Persons to connect victims of sexual assault with disabilities to the same resources available to other victims of sexual assault.
The Protective Service Navigators offer individualized supports to sexual assault victims with disabilities to ascertain what, if any trauma-related services, the victim may want or need and support that individual in obtaining services. Improving access to services for persons with disabilities also means improving access to long-term mental health treatment for all persons with disabilities, particularly persons with I/DD. To address the barriers often experienced by individuals in ascertaining an experienced therapist who can provide critical long-term mental health services to sexual assault victims with disabilities, DPPC contracted with Interface at William James College. Interface provides intake, screening, assessment, placement, follow-up and case consultation to match sexual assault victims with disabilities to appropriate therapist.