The training and services to end violence and abuse against women with disabilities and deaf people grant program (disability program) is authorized by 34 U.S.C. 20122

The U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women awarded a $720,000 Cooperative Agreement under the Education, Training, and Enhanced Services to End Violence Against and Abuse of Women with Disabilities grant program (CFDA 16.529) to Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities, Inc. The 3-year project, which commenced on October 1, 2023, aims to strengthen partnerships, increase organizational capacity, and develop strategic plans to enhance the response to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are survivors of sexual violence. Key objectives include improving policies and procedures, providing trauma-informed staff training, enhancing interagency referrals, and increasing awareness among people with disabilities about available services. The project will be implemented through a collaboration between Quality Trust, the DC Department on Disability Services, the DC Rape Crisis Center, and Project Action!.

The goal of the disability grant program is to create sustainable change within and between organizations that improves the response to individuals with disabilities and deaf individuals who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, and to hold perpetrators of such crimes accountable. Quality trust for individuals with disabilities (quality trust) will collaborate with the DC department on disability services, the DC rape crisis center, and project action! To strengthen partnerships and maintain or enhance a multidisciplinary collaborative team; increase organizational capacity to provide accessible, safe, and effective services to individuals with disabilities and deaf individuals who are victims of violence and abuse; identify needs within the grantees organization and/or service area; and develop a plan that addresses those identified needs and builds a strong foundation for future work. Through this project, quality trust and its partners will address the needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who are sexual violence survivors. Specifically, quality trust and its partners will: increase the capacity of each partner organization to effectively and safely serve people with IDD who are survivors of sexual violence through policy and procedure enhancement. Increase capacity for professional staff at each partner organization to provide culturally relevant and trauma-informed services to people with IDD who are sexual violence survivors. Enhance coordination and collaboration between partner organizations through the development of a referral process. Increase the knowledge of people with IDD about sexual violence and available services.