Disability Project

 

Bridging South Dakota is a partnership between the South Dakota Network Against Family Violence & Sexual Assault, Communication Service for the Deaf, Disability Rights South Dakota, and the Compass Center.

MISSION: Bridging South Dakota seeks to improve services for victims and survivors with disabilities or who are d/Deaf by cultivating the capacity of our statewide organizations to provide trauma-informed, safe and accessible interventions through technical assistance, training and curricula.  

VISION:  We envision that survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking, who have disabilities or who are d/Deaf, will receive knowledgeable, culturally sensitive and effective services from providers and advocates throughout the state of South Dakota.

People with disabilities or who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing are 3-5X more likely to experience violence victimization.

Reasons why people with disabilities experience violence at higher rates include:

  • Ableism, Racism, Other forms of Oppression
  • Isolation
  • Culture of Compliance
  • Disregard for People with Disabilities’ Credibility
  • Targeted with Impunity
  • A Hidden Problem

For more information go to endabusepwd a project of Activating Change.

 

Liaison Services are Available for
Sexual Assault Victims /Survivors With Disabilities in South Dakota

TYPES OF SERVICES PROVIDED

  • Case management
  • Civil legal advocacy (protection orders, accompanying to court hearings)
  • Civil legal assistance (provided by attorney or paralegal)
  • Criminal justice advocacy/ court accompanying
  • Crisis intervention
  • Employment assistance Uob training, coaching, supported or sheltered employment)
  • Forensic exam assistance (provided by nurse or forensic examiner)
  • Hospital/clinic accompanying
  • Language services (interpreters and translators)
  • Long term Care (assist with connecting to services for daily needs)
  • Peer Support connections
  • Personal Planning (assist victim/ survivor with goal-setting and develop plans to accomplish)
  • Respite (connect to short term care to victim/survivor to relieve primary caregiver[s])
  • Transportation acquisition (assist victim/survivor with securing means of transportation)
  • Victim/ Survivor advocacy (actions designed to assist victim/survivor in obtaining support, resources or services, including housing, employment shelter services, health care, victim’s compensation, etc.)

Who to Contact For Services

Devin Labbee-Darling & C.J. Moit
Disability Rights South Dakota
2520 E. Franklin Ave. Suite 2
Pierre, SD 57501
Tel: 800 658 4782
Email:
CJ.Moit@DRSDlaw.org
or
devin.labbee-darling@DRSDlaw.org
Lance Sigdestad
SD Deaf Resource & Outreach Programs
14 S Main St #305
Aberdeen SD 57401
Tel: 605 370 6593
Email: lsigdestad@sddrop.org
Katie Peterson, NIC, CT
SD Deaf Resource & Outreach Programs
2310 N Maple Ave
Rapid City, SD 57701
Tel: 605 519 8208
Email: kpeterson@sddrop.org
Shaina Yellowback & Jenna Lequire
South Dakota Urban Indian Health
1200 N West Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Tel: 605 339 0420
Email: shaina.yellowback@sduih.org
or
jenna.lequire@sduih.org

 

Additional Resources

Hiring an Interpreter SD Crisis Lines and Shelters Tip Sheet SD Disability Resources

 

This project was supported by Grant No. 2018-FW-AX-K009 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions and recommendations expressed in this publication/ program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.