Accessing Services and Justice

The Roeher Institute and Education Wife Assault, at the request of the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation, are organizing a number of workshops in Ontario over the next year. These events are designed to enhance access to services and to the justice system by women with disabilities and Deaf women who experience domestic abuse.

Domestic Violence Courts have recently been established in seven communities across Ontario. The establishment of these courts stems from a recognition of the extent and seriousness of violence against women, and the need for innovative approaches on the part of the judicial system. The new Domestic Violence Courts provide a unique opportunity to bring into relief the particular nature and impacts of violence against women with disabilities, who, for a variety of reasons, are more vulnerable to various forms of abuse -- including domestic and caregiver violence.

The Roeher Institute and Education Wife Assault will hold two events funded by the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation (one in early fall of 1998, a second early in 1999) in each of the communities in which the Domestic Violence Courts have been established. These events will address the issue of access to services and to the courts for women with disabilities and Deaf women who experience abuse.

The workshops will take place in Toronto, Ottawa, London, Hamilton, Brampton, Durham and North Bay. Given the need for a coordinated response to violence against women with disabilities, these events will bring together individuals from various sectors in the community, including police, Victim Witness Assistance Coordinators, Crown Attorneys, and representatives from shelters, sexual assault centres/treatment centres, and disability organizations.

The first workshop in each city will be a day-long event, designed to raise awareness about barriers to access by women with disabilities, best practices and community resources. Participants will also begin to develop a strategy for addressing barriers over the long term in each community. The second workshop will be a follow-up, half-day session to see what steps have been taken in the intervening months, and to plan for sustaining the initiatives to ensuring access by women with disabilities to services and to the justice system. As part of this initiative, other educational sessions are also planned for Crown Attorneys and for Judges in 1998/1999.

For further information about these events, please contact:

Doris Rajan

The Roeher Institute

Tel.: (416) 661-9611

TTY: (416) 661-2023

and Marsha Sfeir or Joanne Bacon

Education Wife Assault

Tel.: (416) 968-3422

THE ROEHER INSTITUTE

4700 KEELE STREET

NORTH YORK, ON M3J 1P3

TEL: (416) 661-9611

TOLL-FREE: (800) 856-2207

FAX: (416) 661-5701

TTY: (416) 661-2023

E-MAIL: [email protected]

WEBSITE: www.roeher.ca/roeher