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Considerations of Identity
Age & Ability
Ability, unlike some other aspects of identity, can change over the course of one’s life time; so while someone may be born with an impairing condition, all of us will eventually lose some manner of our physical and cognitive ability.
Age & ability encompasses not only physical, cognitive, and other types of impairments, but also ageism —- the biases that we face on both ends of the continuum of our lives; children and teenagers face heightened threats as victims due to their inexperience and vulnerability; in later years, grown adults face similar threats of victimization as their ability to care for themselves deteriorates; perpetrators can take advantage of the vulnerability brought on by the deterioration of physical or mental abilities.
Recent/Of Note:
Disability Organizations Give New Budget Faililng Grade For People With Disabilities
from Disabilities Rights Wisconsin (DRW):
“Many of you are well aware of the impact of the Wisconsin Governor's budget (now law) on collective bargaining and public employee unions. There is another story as well. Please see the Report Card issued by the Survival Coalition -- a statewide coalition of disability organizations, of which Disability Rights Wisconsin is a member. This report card succinctly illustrates what awaits some of our most vulnerable Wisconsinites…”
The Legislative Report Card can be read online [PDF]
Read the Survival Coalition’s press release online…
U.S. DOJ -- First Estimates of Crime Against People with Disabilities
The U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) has issued the first estimates of crime against people with disabilities.
Using 2007 National Crime Victimization Survey data, BJS estimates that
about one third (34%) of the crimes against persons with or without a
disability in 2007 were serious violent crimes (rape/sexual assault,
robbery, or aggravated assault). Persons with disabilities were victims
of about 47,000 rapes, 79,000 robberies, 114,000 aggravated assaults,
and 476,000 simple assaults.
You can read more, and download text and PDF versions of the report on the DOJ website.
Deaf Unity has recently launched a Hotline Service 
New Resources from Disability Rights Wisconsin
In collaboration with our partners at Disability Rights Wisconsin and WCADV, would like you to know about two new resources posted to the DRW website available for download:
CREATING SAFETY by Asking What Makes People Vulnerable?
Developed through the Violence Against Women with Disabilities and Deaf Women Project of Wisconsin and authored by Mark Sweet, Trainer and Consultant at Disability Rights Wisconsin (DRW), this guide is a ground-breaking culmination of open thought, keen observation and practical understanding of how many people with disabilities experience human interactions and relationships designed to provide them support.
Click here to download Creating Safety. 
Victims/Survivors Who Use Service Animals: An Updated Background Paper and Sample Policy for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Programs September 2011
This booklet was originally developed and now updated by the Violence Against Women with Disabilities and Deaf Women Project of Wisconsin to assist domestic violence and sexual assault organizations, and other service organizations that have questions about addressing requests for service animals as a reasonable accommodation or modification for program participants with disabilities.
Click here to download the Service Animal guide
Links to Online Resources:
Ability
Disability Rights Wisconsin
Deaf Unity
Disability Advocates Wisconsin Network (DAWN) – [email alert system]
Board for People with Developmental Disabilities
WI Developmental Disabilities Agency Links
National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities
MINCAVA: Disabilities and Violence
Accessing Safety Initiative
Safe Place
Disaboom - Information and resources for people with disabilities
Aging Issues
Older Adults:
National Institute on Aging
National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life
National Center on Elder Abuse
Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups
WI Bureau of Aging and Long Term Care
Challenges Facing Aging Populations: Focus on Immigrant Elders (part of Wisconsin Women's Network briefs)
Youth / Teens:
WI Dept. of Public Instruction (DPI) Toolkit on Creating Trauma-Sensitive Schools to Improve Learning
Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence – Teen Abuse and Dating Violence resources
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation study: 1,430 7th-Grader Students Report Teen Dating Violence Behaviors and Risk Factors Occurring among Middle School Students [published Mar. 2012]
Child Sexual Abuse
Prevent Child Abuse Wisconsin
18th National Conference on Child Abuse & Neglect – originally held in April 2012, they have made their archive of presentation handouts available online
Isthmus article: Finding Safety , March 31, 2011