Believe Us! Supporting Crime Victims with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities

Too often people with IDD remain invisible as crime victims and don’t get the help they need.  They may not be believed, they may not be given accommodations, they may not even know what a crime is or that they can report crimes.  Join this session to learn more about this issue and practical strategies you can learn to help crime victims with IDD.  Learn about current resources and new ideas that are building a brighter future for survivors.

Leigh Anne McKingsley is the Senior Director of Disability and Justice Initiatives at The Arc of the United States where she founded and directs The Arc’s National Center on Criminal Justice and Disability (NCCJD), the first national center in the U.S. to address both victim and suspect/defendant issues concerning people with IDD.

Jessica Oppenheim, Esq. retired as the Director of the Criminal Justice Advocacy Program of The Arc of NJ in June 2021, a NJ statewide program providing advocacy for people with IDD involved in the criminal justice system.  She is now a consultant on issues related to criminal justice and developmental disabilities, working with The Arc of the United States.