NCJ Number
188515
Date Published
December 2002
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This videotape from the Office for Victims of Crime addresses the victimization of individuals with disabilities.
Abstract
This videotape is presented in three separate formats including closed captioned, open captioned, and visually described versions. Cheryl Tyiska, Director of Victim Services of the National Organization of Victim Assistance, introduces this videotape by stating that the criminal victimization of individuals with disabilities is a very difficult and rarely discussed topic, and many disabled individuals become victims of violent crimes. The remainder of this tape is a compilation of disabled individuals speaking from their own experiences about being the victims of violent criminal acts in their homes, in institutions, and on the streets. Four disabled individuals from varied background share their experiences of being both mentally retarded and/or physically disabled and being abused by strangers, acquaintances, and mental health professionals. The majority of the individuals interviewed stated that being mentally handicapped makes individuals especially vulnerable to crime. Mental health professionals featured on this tape argue that the reporting of the victimizations of the disabled goes greatly underreported in the United States because most social service agencies tend to address the disability only, excluding any issues of reported violence against the disabled individual. Positive, recent steps in the handling of disabled individuals by various social service agencies are also profiled in this videotape. Individuals who have become disabled as the result of being the victim of a violent criminal act are also interviewed on this videotape. The videotape concludes with various disabled individuals expressing how falling victim to criminal activity has not crushed their spirits. A resource guide listing national organizations in the victim assistance field accompanies this videotape.