Article 5- June 24
Community Power!
Highlighting helpful resources throughout the state
Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence
by Michaela VanDeusen, KSYLF Alumna '17
Self-advocacy is something that KYEA strives to teach and encourage in youth with disabilities. The Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence (KCSDV) is an agency for all to use their voice or get support for themselves… they empower people like KYEA does, just in a different way. They especially want people with disabilities to be empowered. I spoke with Jami Clark, the Disabilities Project Coordinator with KCSDV, who coordinates and collaborates with the Self-Advocate Coalition of Kansas (SACK) as part of her job.
The KCSDV is a statewide voice for victims and survivors of sexual and domestic violence with a mission to prevent and eliminate sexual and domestic violence. While every person who has experienced sexual or domestic violence is supported by the coalition, there is hope to expand and have more emphasis on, and support for, youth with disabilities in Kansas, and a hope that spreading awareness of the coalition will also spread much needed information to youth with disabilities of Kansas. Jami highlighted that it is important for this information to reach youth, as well as caregivers, as “people with disabilities are 3 times more likely to experience violent victimization, and people who experience sexual and domestic violence are not all reported, and even less are reported by people with disabilities.” We also discussed that part of this victimization and under reporting can be due to the perpetrator being a caregiver, care attendant, parent, family member, etc., and the individual may not recognize that what is being experienced is sexually or domestically violent.
KCSDV is part of a network with 25 coalition programs that serve various parts of Kansas, allowing for Kansas to have accessibility to their services and support. Below are more details of location and some more detailed local services for youth. The KCSDV works with these member programs to support, advocate, assist, and troubleshoot them. Some of the processes they do this for are: new leadership, legal help, and legislation. Equally important, they provide domestic violence and sexual assault work, social work, support on how to work with local law enforcement, and more.
As previously mentioned, the KCSDV and SACK work together on a project called BELIEVE (Building and Expanding Leaders and Individuals, Experience the Vision of Empowerment). Jami explains that “The vision of Kansas BELIEVE is that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) who have experienced violence will be believed and will be able to make their own decisions.”
Jami discussed how the team can support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) by developing meaningful connections with the desire to understand alongside having active cooperation and communication with individuals. This can look like: the youth will be asked if they are comfortable sharing their experience with a parent or guardian. As Jami pointed out, unless an advocate has a license, they are not mandated reporters. This distinction is important because, if an advocate has a license, they should disclose that they are a mandated reporter before talking with an individual. This disclosure is important for an ethical connection with an individual experiencing sexual and domestic violence. Trust is an important factor in an individual feeling safe and comfortable enough to share their experience and to reach out for support. It gives individuals coming to KCSDV the ability to make informed decisions and a sense of trust, knowing what to expect from the conversation. This is a big step towards self-advocacy for many individuals who have not had this level of respect and care before.
We spent some time discussing how personal experiences influence the care others receive. Jami shared that she is outgoing and will talk to anyone about anything. She looks back on her life thus far and recognizes her sense of advocacy, where she has always wanted to help people or be the person who knew of other people who could help. She always wanted everyone to feel included. She was able to share that she is a survivor of sexual violence. Her experience makes her more passionate to make sure others know there is help and that you can speak your truth. Self-advocacy has had a huge part in the BELIEVE project. Jami discussed how working with the Kansas BELIEVE project partners has shown and taught her about disability pride, which allowed her to come to a quicker acceptance of her own disability of being hard of hearing. It is truly amazing what brings us the important lessons and personal growth we didn’t realize we needed until it happens. I would like you to imagine the community with everyone having their own experiences with self-advocacy and disability pride. It’s astonishing how much we influence not just our own lives, but others, with what we experience and gain when we speak up and shine in our own ways.
Jami has some advice: Do not let society decide what you can and cannot do. If you have passion for something, whatever that is, keep doing it, keep expanding on it. Keep doing your research. Youth with disabilities need to use their voice, they need to keep fighting for supported decision-making, voting, and setting boundaries. Identify the difference between a healthy relationship and an unhealthy relationship. The KS BELIEVE team created a Healthy Relationships Guide written in plain language. Become involved in your community; join boards and committees for subjects that matter to you. Most importantly, if you have challenges and barriers, find people you trust to support you in overcoming the challenges and barriers. Do not give up. If you have experienced sexual or domestic violence, please reach out to a local KCSDV program, and talk to someone.
If you would like to reach out to KCSDV, check out their service map providing locations of offices. Many of the member programs have child and youth specific services and are provided at your closest agency office. The member programs also do outreach in their respective communities, awareness events, and presentations. They also have lined the Kansas crisis hotline at 888-363-2287.
Jami also wants people to know that SACK is having their annual conference in Wichita where people with intellectual/developmental disabilities meet, share, and learn from each other, as well as experts in the field. This is where those attending have the opportunity to choose from learning sessions on a variety of topics, as well as viewing a motivating keynote speaker, and other activities are also offered at the conference. It would be the perfect time to get introduced to KCSDV, BELIEVE, and SACK. The conference is in Wichita on July 5th – July 7th. Visit the SACK website for more details about their annual conference.
Jami wants us to remember that there is a reason to be hopeful in today’s world. “While there’s still a lot of work to do, right now, we are in one of the better times than we have ever been in.” Jami pictures talking to survivors from the disability community who can feel very overwhelmed, unheard, and feels support and resources are very inaccessible due to the world feeling very overwhelming and very isolating. Maybe you can relate to that picture; maybe you can imagine others feeling this way. Jami wants you, the young people within the disability community or people from marginalized communities, people of color, people from the LGBTQ community… she wants you to reach out to your community agencies and ask for resources. Jami encourages this as “there are people who want to and can help get you the information you are looking for to assist you.”
For more information, contact the KCSDV office at 785-232-9784 or visit the KCSDV website. You can also contact Jami at 785-232-9784 or by email at Jclark@kcsdv.org.