Shelter Transformation Project

Carol Boyer, President of A Diversity Advantage, launched a Shelter Transformation Project (STP) in 2005. The STP is a call to action for state and local governments, private and nonprofit organizations, and individuals to enlighten their domestic violence shelters to serve all their clients--no matter what their ability.

Many domestic violence shelters are not accessible for clients who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices, for those who are deaf or hearing impaired, and for other clients with various disabilities.

For example:

Some shelters offer entrances with steps or with no ramps, no bathrooms with grab bars, or no bedrooms located on first floors. Oftentimes, the bedrooms are located on second floors, without any means of vertical access, such as an elevator or a lift.
A woman who is deaf needs to make an emergency call through her TTY number (a text telephone) to her local shelter that does not offer a TTY phone to receive the call. In such cases, life-threatening moments can be compromised if the only method to call her shelter is to utilize her state's telephone relay services with an interpreter acting as a go-between.
A domestic violence shelter may need to review and perhaps modify its policies that prohibit residents who have diabetes in receiving juice or snacks in between meals. Such policies may be life-threatening.
An abusing spouse who is deaf may be ordered by the court to receive counseling, offered by the shelter. However, the shelter does not provide an interpreter for the spouse who is deaf. Therefore, the counseling program is not accessible to this client.

The above examples are illustrations and are not comprehensive.

Resources

The following technical assistance resources may be helpful to state and local governments, private and nonprofit organizations, and individuals who wish to assist their domestic violence shelters to be accessible to all their clients.

Technical Assistance Materials for Accessible Domestic Violence Shelters

To receive technical assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act, call the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Technical Assistance phone line at the U.S. Department of Justice, Disability Rights Section (DRS): 800/514-0301 (Voice); 800/514-0383 (TTY) (M, Tu, W, F 9:30 am-5:30 pm; Th, 12:30-5:30 pm (Eastern Time)

General Americans with Disabilities Act Materials:

For State and Local Governments:

For Privately Funded or Nonprofit Organizations:

The U.S. Department of Justice's Disability Rights Section has filed several state and local government settlements that contain information on programs for victims of domestic abuse as part of its Project Civic Access (PCA) program with the following state and local governments:

Read more about Project Civic Access (PCA).

General Resources

Office of Violence Against Women
National Domestic Violence Hotline
1/800-799-SAFE or 1/800-787-3224 (TDD)
National Sexual Vilence Resource Center
1/877-739 3895
Communities Against Violence Network

A Diversity Advantage
13900 Mount Oak Court, Mitchellville, MD 20721
Phone: 301/249-4916 Email: