People with disabilities have always had a voice. We’re just teaching the world different ways to listen.
A disability victim services agency

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Adult Advocacy Centers to present at three international conferences

December 4, 2019

COLUMBUS, OHIO – The Adult Advocacy Centers (AACs) have been invited to present their groundbreaking model to international audiences at three upcoming conferences:

The presentations, titled “An Inclusive and Individualized Response for Victims of Crime with Disabilities: The Adult Advocacy Centers’ Model,” will discuss the AACs’ groundbreaking multi-disciplinary team (MDT) approach.

Ohio will be the first in the world to develop centers that will be equipped to provide holistic, accessible and trauma-informed services to adult crime victims with disabilities in a universal and multisensory environment. The 10 Adult Advocacy Centers (AACs) will be located throughout Ohio and will work in partnership with state, regional and community agencies to coordinate a response that promotes the safety and well-being of all individuals. To provide these services, the AACs will facilitate MDTs within local communities that are typically comprised of law enforcement agencies; uniquely trained forensic interviewers; prosecutors; victim advocates; staff from adult protective services, disability-specific agencies and local hospitals; medical and mental health professionals; survivors; and guardians (when applicable).

“There has been so much interest in what we’re doing at the AACs, both locally and nationally,” says AACs Executive Director Katherine Yoder. “We are so excited to see the interest spreading to the international community, and we look forward to helping other disability advocates around the world find better ways to support adults with disabilities who are victims of crime.”

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The Adult Advocacy Centers (AACs) were founded to serve adults with disabilities who are alleged victims or witnesses of abuse, maltreatment or neglect. Ohio will be the first state to develop the AACs model – one-point facilities equipped to provide holistic, accessible, trauma-informed services to adult crime victims with disabilities. Learn more at adultadvocacycenters.org.