The Arc of Aurora's                                                                                                 May, 2011      Vtrail Update

Vulnerability Trail Update

Issues Related to Crime Victimization and People with Developmental Disabilities
In This Issue
Opportunities
Resource
Articles



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The Arc of Aurora (CO) advocates for and with people with intellectual and/or other developmental disabilities and their families through individual and systems change advocacy, training and education, and individual, family and class support.
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Wow!  What a blur mid-April was with our National Crime Victims' Rights' Week (NCVRW) activities:  prosecutor recognition and a training for self advocates hosted in conjunction with our City Attorney Victim Witness Liaison!  The work of our Collaborative to Address Crime Victimization of People with Developmental Disabilities continues year round, though, so let us know when we may be a resource to you in your outreach and education efforts.


Stay the course!  Jean Solis 
Opportunities

The National Conference on Responding to Crime Victims with Disabilities aims to enhance the knowledge, skills, and abilities of providers to effectively serve people with disabilities who are victims of crime. It will facilitate partnerships among the fields of victim assistance, advocacy for persons with disabilities, and all allied professions (e.g., adult and child protective service workers, faith-based practitioners, medical practitioners/forensic examiners, mental health practitioners, educators). The Conference will be held December 13-15, 2011, at the JW Marriott Orlando Grand Lakes in Orlando, Florida, and the conference committee is currently seeking Field-Generated Workshop Proposals and Applications for Community-Team Scholarships.  Visit the Conference website for more information.

 

Attention Arizona VTrail-ers!

Looking for potential partners with whom to collaborate on issues related to crime victimization of people with developmental disabilities?  So is Wilene Lampert, Executive Director of the Southern Arizona Children's Advocacy Center.  We met with Wilene on a recent visit she had to Colorado and talked about the work of our local Collaborative to Address Crime Victimization of People with Developmental Disabilities.  In fact, our partner Diana Goldberg, Executive Director of SungateKids, our local children's advocacy center, suggested Wilene visit with us.  Wilene is looking to be part of a team in Arizona to make a difference in the lives of crime victims who have developmental disabilities.  She can be reached at 520.243.6420 or via email, wlampert@soazadvocacy.org.

 

Resource

Learn About Basic Skills for Serving Victims Gaining Insight, Taking Action: Basic Skills for Serving Victims  (NCJ 232780, 89 pp.) includes three videos and a guidebook. It is a valuable training tool for those who want to better understand the challenges faced by underserved victim populations, the relationship between substance abuse and victimization, and how to communicate effectively with crime victims.

Articles


Man Charged with Raping Mentally Disabled Student

A 22-year-old man has been charged with raping a woman with severe mental and developmental disabilities in a Fullerton College bathroom. --- San Jose Mercury News --- May 3, 2011  (CALIFORNIA)   http://is.gd/aVpPjf

 

Jury Selection Set for Youngest of 6 Suspects in Torture-Murder of Mentally Disabled Pa. Woman

Jury selection is set for a western Pennsylvania woman who was only 17 when she was charged along with five adults in the torture murder of a mentally disabled woman last year. --- The Republic --- May 2, 2011  (PENNSYLVANIA)  http://is.gd/NJxkcg 

 

Anaheim Man Charged with Sexually Assaulting Disabled Woman in Campus Bathroom

An Anaheim man charged with kidnapping and sexually assaulting an 18-year-old developmentally disabled woman is expected to be arraigned Tuesday in Orange County Superior Court, police said. --- Los Angeles Times --- May 2, 2011  (CALIFORNIA)  http://is.gd/exiUZZ

 

Texas Company to Pay $1.7M to Iowa Workers

A federal judge ordered a Texas-based company accused of abusing and underpaying several mentally disabled men at a turkey plant in Iowa to pay $1.76 million to the former ... --- Forbes --- April 28, 2011  (IOWA) http://is.gd/SLawSQ

 

Don't Warehouse the Developmentally Disabled

Some might say that the individuals living in the state's developmental centers are "too disabled" to live in the community. However, there are many more individuals with equally complex . --- NorthJersey.com --- April 28, 2011  (NEW JERSEY)  http://is.gd/AZhgO5

 

Employee Charged with Stealing Pills from Disabled Man

An employee at a Sheboygan group home was charged this week for allegedly stealing pain pills from a cognitively disabled resident suffering from severe burns. --- Sheboygan Press --- April 27, 2011  (WISCONSIN) http://is.gd/tJyojF

 

Man Accused of Sexually Assaulting Disabled Women

Both of the victim's who were sexually assaulted are intellectually disabled, which makes this crime even more disturbing," said State Trooper Tom Pinkerton. --- CBS 21 --- April 21, 2011 (PENNSYLVANIA) http://is.gd/SaaQtj 

 

Cumberland County Man Arrested for Sexually Assaulting Mentally Disabled Women

A Cumberland County man is in prison for allegedly assaulting two mentally disabled women at his home between July 2010 and. --- FOX43.com --- April 21, 2011 (PENNSYLVANIA) http://is.gd/11Q0pq 

 

Mentally Handicapped Man Allegedly Bilked Out of $30K

Court documents unsealed this week say a Janesville man swindled more than $30,000 from a mentally handicapped Sheboygan man under the auspices of helping him obtain disability benefits. --- Sheboygan Press --- April 20, 2011 (WISCONSIN) http://is.gd/MLKOGQ 

 

Developmentally Disabled Man Beaten on City Bus

Another passenger beat a developmentally disabled man riding on the bus one week ago last Sunday without provocation, police said Tuesday night. --- NBC Los Angeles --- April 20, 2011 (CALIFORNIA) http://is.gd/odvKNf 

 

Man Accused of Kicking Disabled Woman in Head

Richard Vu Nguyen, 44, is charged with one felony count of dependent adult abuse, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office. --- OCRegister --- April 19, 2011 (CALIFORNIA) http://is.gd/G28S1t 

 

Teen Sentenced to 30 Years in Murder of Pregnant, Disabled Woman

An Illinois teenager has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for the brutal murder of a developmentally disabled pregnant woman in 2008. --- ToTheCenter.com --- April 16, 2011 (ILLINOIS) http://is.gd/gADF4c 

 

Two Accused of Stealing Funds Meant for Developmentally Disabled Clients

Two Cuyahoga County residents are accused of stealing state and county money that was meant for 12 developmentally disabled clients living in group... --- News-Herald.com --- April 15, 2011 (OHIO) http://is.gd/t9ocVl 

 

$75,000 Reward Offered in Shooting of 3 Mentally Disabled Adults

A $750,00 reward is being offered for information in the shooting of three mentally disabled adults in South Los . --- Los Angeles Times --- April 14, 2011 (CALIFORNIA) http://is.gd/yO1BgW 

 

Lincoln Mom Accused of Spending 23-Year-old Disabled Son's Money; She Remains in Custody

Authorities are accusing a Lincoln woman of spending more than $17,000 of her mentally disabled son's money. --- The Republic --- April 14, 2011 (NEBRASKA) http://is.gd/1WdNMC 

 

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