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 Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) awarded a $607,481 Cooperative Agreement grant under CFDA 16.529 - Education, Training, and Enhanced Services to End Violence Against and Abuse of Women with Disabilities to The Arc of Bristol County Inc. for the "Empower Bristol County" project. Through this 3-year grant, The Arc of Bristol County will collaborate with sub-awardee New Hope, Inc. to strengthen partnerships, increase organizational capacity, identify service needs, and develop a plan to provide accessible, safe, and effective services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Key activities include conducting staff trainings, facilitating educational groups on personal safety and healthy relationships for individuals with disabilities, and updating organizational policies, protocols, and resource guides.

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. The ARC of bristol county will collaborate with new hope, INC. To strength partnerships and establish a multidisciplinary collaborative team, known as empower bristol county; 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. Empower bristol county is a project that focused on domestic and sexual violence against people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (i/DD). During this project period, empower bristol county will: develop and conduct trainings for the ARC of bristol county and new hope, INC. Staff on appropriate responses to disclosures or suspected incidents of domestic and/or sexual violence. Facilitate group sessions for people with i/DD so they may learn about and discuss personal safety and healthy relationships. Develop tools and update resource guides for the ARC of bristol county and new hope, INC. Update, or develop policies and protocols for the ARC of bristol county and new hope, INC as necessary.