Dreaming of Equality by Guest Blogger Shirley Paceley

I am one of those people who get goose bumps when I think about the words, “with liberty and justice for all.”  It is a dream I have held onto since I was a young girl and discovered that some people were not treated well, or even hated, because of a characteristic they had.  For nearly 40 years, I have had the privilege to know many people with disabilities, both through my family and through my work.  I know people who were locked up at birth or shortly afterwards because they were different.   These folks were denied access to family and community and the very basics of human dignity.   I have marched beside people with disabilities calling for freedom as recently as 2009. 

We know that people with disabilities experience violence at alarming rates.  In recent months, five men in Milwaukee were charged for forcing a 17 year old female with intellectual disabilities to perform sex acts.  In Alhambra, California, a 6-year old girl in Special Education was sexually assaulted by fellow students in the restroom during lunch and recess.  And in Somerset, New Jersey, a staff member at a group home for people with disabilities was charged with sexually assaulting one of the residents.   There are countless voices and faces of people with disabilities who have experienced various forms of violence.  When does the ‘liberty and justice for all’ become a reality?

We need to stop treating people with disabilities as separate.  We need to stop trying to fix people who are just fine the way they are.  We need to stop focusing on what people can’t do and focus on what people can do.  ALL people have abilities, talents, dreams and contributions to make.  There is a huge difference between oppression and protection.  

So, what can one person do?   Invite people with disabilities to participate in collaborative teams that address violence issues.  Reach out to people with disabilities when you recruit for new employees and volunteers.  When you plan events, consider how to make the event accessible to the largest number of people possible.  When you see or hear someone being treated with disrespect, speak up. When you look at a person with a disability, see someone who has abilities.  When you think about someone with a disability, think about their abilities.    Join the dreamers who believe in the dream of “with liberty and justice for all” and know that all means ALL.

Shirley Paceley has worked with people with disabilities for 39 years and has a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology.  Shirley is the founder and director of Blue Tower Training in Illinois which has resources in 48 states and 16 countries.  Shirley serves on the Board of Directors of End Violence Against Women International and the Editorial Board of Sexual Assault Report.  Shirley is a published author, international trainer, advocate, counselor, and visionary.  Shirley is a survivor of childhood incest and has several siblings with disabilities.

What will happen to VAWA?

As many of you know, The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA IV) is up for re-authorization this year. VAWA was originally signed into law in 1994, and has since been re-authorized in 2000 and 2005. VAWA is a critical piece of legislation that provides funding for investigation and prosecution for violence against women, as well as funding for sexual assault and domestic violence programs across the country. VAWA, like EVAWI, encourages initiatives that strengthen the community response to violence against women.

New provisions were included this year to add protections for specific populations such as for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) community, Native American community, and immigrant victims of sexual assault.

This year, unlike any previous re-authorization, VAWA has become a forum for political debate. While the Senate overwhelmingly passed the version including the provisions mentioned above, the House passed their own, dramatically different, version last week. The House version does not include the provisions listed above. Both sides are currently refusing to negotiate on each other’s bill. 

Where does this leave us? VAWA actually expired last fall, and many programs are currently relying on temporary funding to keep their doors open.  Many programs are concerned about what this means for continued funding for their much needed services to victims of sexual and domestic violence. 

Welcome to the New EVAWI Blog!

We at End Violence Against Women International(EVAWI) decided it was about time we started a blog! We hope to use this new blog to reach more people who can help us in our effort to share our vision: a world where gender-based violence is unacceptable; where perpetrators are held accountable, and victims receive the compassion, support, and justice they deserve.

In this weekly blog, you’ll find out what’s happening around EVAWI, as well as information on the various projects we are working hard on. You’ll hear tidbits from staff, some board members, and even a few guest bloggers.

EVAW International was founded in January 2003 by Joanne Archambault in order to educate the general public and public safety workers about the crimes of sexual assault and domestic violence. EVAWI seeks to inspire and educate those who respond to gender-based violence, equipping them with the knowledge and tools they need to support victims and hold perpetrators accountable.