April is Sexual Violence Awareness Month (SAAM). Abuse and violence against PWD occurs at rates 2-3 times higher than in the general population, making them one the most vulnerable and harmed groups in the country. This statistic includes both men and women. Multiple studies highlight the increased risk, frequency, and duration of abuse they experience at the hands of intimate partners, family members, and/or caregivers, including transportation providers.

Sit with that statistic for a minute

Now imagine this:

You are a mom with IDD  who has lived a life punctuated with trauma Your beloved young daughter is removed from your home when you become unable to care for her – let alone yourself as a direct response to being violently sexually assaulted. You sink into a profound cycle of substance abuse and even more profound depression. Somehow you miraculously get connected to the DC Rape Crisis Center and Victims Services. Your team of social workers and advocates (by now, this includes me at The Quality Trust ) decides with your permission- to take the perpetrator to court.

And…. The perpetrator is sentenced, and you begin your life over again -eventually with your daughter.

I so believe that from this experience – Project Peer was born. Hopefully, we will continue to thrive and grow as we spread awareness of this epidemic of abuse and violence and ultimately create a system of supports and services that reach across our respective borders.

Quality Trust received funding from the US Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women, to lead a state-level collaboration committed to continuing our person-centered, trauma-informed work for District residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are survivors of sexual assault.

The #ProjectPeerToo (#PP2) Collaboration sees the needs of survivors of sexual violence who have intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) through an intersectional, anti-racist, anti-oppressive, trauma-informed lens. This means we recognize that each aspect of a person’s unique identity – including but not limited to race, class, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, age, disability, and survivor status – is interconnected and involves its own structures of power, privilege, and marginalization. Together, we respond to each person’s unique identity. We use this framework throughout our project planning, implementation, and evaluation.

Quality Trust is working in collaboration with two local service providers, Project ACTION! and the DC Rape Crisis Center, who were collaboration partners in FY 2008-2011 and 2014-2015. Our new partner is the DC Department of Disability Services (DDS),

Project Peer Too Vision

In the District of Columbia, survivors of sexual assault or abuse who have disabilities will live in safe environments, heal and have healthy, successful lives. Survivors will have access to high-quality, seamless supports that are person-centered, trauma-informed, and responsive to each survivor’s needs.

History of Project Peer and Our Work

Quality Trust has maintained a focus on this initiative even during periods when The  Office of Violence Against Women was not involved financially. During this time (2008-present), The Women’s Knowledge Workgroup continued to meet and to create innovative and accessible tools and training that offered opportunities to educate women with disabilities and to the staff who support them. This will now include revised training and tools to reach out to men with disabilities.

In 2020 and 2021, during physical distancing during COVID-19, Project ACTION! members and other collaboration partners were the featured speakers during an All-Grantee virtual webinar about the intersectionality between disability and race. Due to the tremendous outpouring of positive responses after the first presentation, they were invited back to continue their authentic conversation a second time.