Topic: Barriers to Reporting for Victims with Disabilities

Date: Friday, January 9th, 2026

Time: 10:00am-11:30am PST

Presenters: Brittany E. Hayes, PhD, University of Cincinnati & Kecia Weller, Human Rights Activist

Attendee Registration Link: Webinar Registration (Zoom)

Please use the link above to register. Please also see the attached flyer, and feel free to pass this flyer along to anyone in your network who you think may be interested in attending!

Brittany Hayes, PhD (she/her) and Kecia Weller (she/her) join us to present Barriers to Reporting for Victims with Disabilities. Their research team has identified gaps and brainstormed ‘fixes’ to support victims with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in reporting sexual assaults. They connected with professionals (e.g., law enforcement, victim advocates), individuals with IDD, and the community (e.g., caregivers, support persons). During this training, Brittany and Kecia will discuss barriers to communication, current policy and available accommodations to support individuals with IDD, and areas for training. This work is foundational to support individuals with IDD to report victimization.

Individuals with IDD are often missing from the creation of data due to, among other things, communication differences. They developed several tools to address this: inclusive interview guides, visual schedules, and social stories. Because people with IDD experience a higher risk of victimization than those without disabilities, they seek to prioritize their voices and make sure they are heard. They will share these tools so others may ensure that individuals with disabilities are actively involved in decision-making.