Victim Advocacy

man in wheelchair speaking up at community event.

Disability Rights Wisconsin’s Victim Advocacy Program provides direct services to individuals with disabilities who have experienced a crime — whether or not that crime was reported to law enforcement. Advocates provide support to victims and their families to ensure they understand and know how to exercise their rights. DRW also works with service providers, government agencies, and the criminal justice systems to insure that victims with disabilities are able to access those systems to obtain safety. Please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-928-8778.

Strategies

Disability Rights Wisconsin has specialists in many areas of advocacy and law. Some advocacy services provided by Disability Rights Wisconsin include:

  • Personal Advocacy
  • Victim Accompaniment
  • Information and Referral
  • Criminal Justice Support (Law Enforcement, Courts)
  • Advocacy within Civil Proceedings
  • Crime Victim Compensation/Rights
  • Co-Advocacy with Local Service Providers
  • Employment Victim Related Supports
  • Access to Services (criminal justice, victim, and disability services)
  • Post-Crisis Stabilization
  • Safety Planning

If you are in urgent need of protective services, please call:

Self-Advocacy Resources

Our self-advocacy resources have helpful guidance and further information on issues related to this topic. Learn more below:

  • Factsheet: Neighbor Disputes or Harassment Issues

    This fact sheet is designed to give some examples of neighbor dispute or harassment issues that people with disabilities may experience and give suggestions for how to deal with them.

    Updated: April 2024

Referrals

Other places that may be able to help you:

  • Deaf Unity

    Deaf Unity provides services to and advocates for Deaf victims.

  • End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin

    For advocates, survivors and allies, End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin is the only statewide coalition led by social policy advocates, attorneys and experts working to support, connect, equip, empower and lead organizations for social change to end domestic abuse because everyone deserves dignity and safety.

  • Free Legal Answers

    American Bar Association

  • National Domestic Violence Hotline

    Highly-trained advocates are available 24/7 to talk confidentially with anyone experiencing domestic violence, seeking resources or information, or questioning unhealthy aspects of their relationship.

  • State Bar Lawyer Referral Modest Means Program

    The Modest Means Program of the State Bar of Wisconsin assists people whose income is too high to qualify for free legal services, but too low to pay a lawyer’s standard rate.

  • Wisconsin Coalition against Sexual Assault

    WCASA is a membership agency comprised of organizations and individuals working to end sexual violence in Wisconsin.

  • Wisconsin Lawyer Lookup

    Look up a lawyer in the Wisconsin Court System.

Learn More

You can find more information on this topic from these websites and publications:

Act

Want to do more to help protect individuals with disabilities? Please visit our Take Action Page for some ideas and to sign up for news and other alerts from our website. Or Donate Now to help protect and advocate for the rights and futures of all Wisconsin citizens. We'd love to have you join us.

Get Help

Need further information or support? Please visit our Contact Page.