About

This digital guide was developed by SAFE Disability Services program staff in Austin, Texas. Since its beginnings in 1996, Disability Services has been recognized as a national leader in domestic and sexual violence prevention and intervention for children and adults with disabilities. SAFE’s Deaf SHARE program developed the section on working with Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, or Hard of Hearing (DDBDDHH) children.

SAFE, a merger of Austin Children’s Shelter and SafePlace, is dedicated to ending violence through prevention, advocacy, and comprehensive services for individuals, families, and communities that have been affected by abuse.

Information in this guide was developed from:

• Interviews with 21 people with disabilities and DDBDDHH, as well as family members, law enforcement officers, disability service professionals, child abuse advocates, educators, staff of Texas Department of Family and Protective Services/Child Protective Investigations/Child Protective Services (TDFPS/CPI/CPS), and others.
• 119 stakeholder responses to 3 state-wide surveys.
• Reviews and input from 23 of the above stakeholders.

SAFE thanks the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services leadership and direct service staff for contributing to development of this guide through participating in surveys and interviews and by providing in-depth reviews of the draft guide.

We especially thank the Children’s Justice Act (CJA) grant program of the Texas Center for the Judiciary, CJA Director Heidi Penix, and the CJA Task Force for supporting access to investigation, due process, and prosecution of cases of child victims with disabilities in Texas. Development of this digital guide is funded by the Children’s Justice Act grant program.