Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness

Wed, 15 Apr 2020 18:18:37 -0400

Accessibility and Disability Services joins the Office of Equity and Inclusion as well as the Women's Center to raise awareness about sexual assault prevention, response and survivor support for all campus members, given its strong intersection with people with disabilities.

The Women's Center's Virtual Sexual Assault Awareness Month online (link) is transitioning from Deconstructing Rape Myths and Narratives into week three which is Honoring & Believing Survivors Stories. Connect here to see the latest events and activities.

Last August, UMBC staff, along with representatives from regional campuses, attended specialized training for Supporting Student Survivors with Disabilities and Deaf Students to reinforce our community's shared commitment to both refresh awareness and reinforce support for student survivors with disabilities. This training was funded by the BRAVE (Bringing Respect and Advocacy for Violence-Free Environments) Consortium Office of Violence Against Women Grant of which UMBC is a member university. As a first step, campus teams help survivors connect with health care professionals to receive support. Please take a moment to review on-campus and off-campus resources below.

We remind all readers that UMBC staff are still here and available for support during this COVID-19 moment. Do not hesitate to reach out for questions, concerns, or care.

On-Campus Resources Available for Virtual Support include:

Counseling Center

Office of Equity and Inclusion (Title IX and more)

University Health Services

Women’s Center

Retriever Courage has a full list of campus resources and support to include resources for USG students, faculty, and staff

For up-to-date details on how to access these resources during this time of distance learning visit UMBC’s COVID-19 resources page.

To report a complaint of sexual misconduct or discrimination, please submit this online form.

Off-Campus Resources:

TurnAround, Inc. Helpline (Available 24/7): 443-279-0379; Office: 410-377-8111. If you are in Maryland and far from UMBC and are seeking support locally, additional Maryland sexual assault/rape crisis centers are listed here (link). If you are concerned about relationship violence, contact TurnAround or your local center about next steps. These centers have adapted to COVID-19, and there is a domestic violence exception to the stay-at-home order in Maryland. While procedures are modified for COVID-19, help and support remain available.

MCASA is still open and supporting survivors. Their Fact Sheet on Sexual Assault and People with Disabilities (link) underscores why Accessibility and Disability Services and Student Disability Services take sexual violence and gender-based violence so seriously. Inclusion matters.

The National Sexual Assault Hotline is 24/7, confidential and free: 800-656-HOPE (4673) and through chat. They can also help you connect with a sexual assault crisis center that is convenient to you.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 24/7, confidential and free: 1-800-799-7233 and through chat.

Visit Retriever Courage for a more extensive list of off-campus resources and support

If you would like to participate by creating a shirt for the Women's Center Clothesline Project, this post has details (link).

We share this to honor survivors, as well as in appreciation of the people we serve, as departmental partners and allies, as we continue the work to end sexual violence as a community.