(Image description: Includes title - Meeting the Needs of Human Trafficking Victims with Disabilities; background is sketch of a crowd of people of various races and genders and disabilities.)

The U.S. Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons Report from 2012 states that "[P]ersons with disabilities remain one of the groups most at risk of being trafficked.” Victims with disabilities experience both sex and labor trafficking, with many cases including an element that is unique to people with disabilities: traffickers stealing their government benefits, such as Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance. Traffickers deliberately target victims they think will be easily isolated and controlled, so conditions surrounding people with disabilities, including the fact that they are marginalized, devalued, and isolated, make people with disabilities more vulnerable to this type of abuse. While there currently is no research on the rate of trafficking among Black and Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) survivors with disabilities, it is evident that BIPOC survivors’ experiences of ableism, racism, and other forms of oppression create a situation in which they are at greater risk and encounter more barriers to getting help. This session will explore the issues facing victims of trafficking who have disabilities, including the unique ways they are trafficked and implications for service providers.

Intended Audience

This webinar is designed for people who work with or may come in contact with survivors of human trafficking with disabilities, including disability-focused organizations and victim service organizations. Others are welcome to attend.

Format

This session will be highly interactive and engaging. It will begin with an introduction to the issue, followed by a panel discussion. The last 30 minutes will be used for questions and dialogue with the audience.

Accessibility

Live captioning, American Sign Language interpretation, and audio descriptions of important visual information will be provided. Other accommodations will be provided as needed, based on requests made during registration.

Facilitator

Sandra Harrell, Vera Institute of Justice. Sandra has been working at the intersection of disability & gender-based violence for over 15 years. In 2017, she joined the National Human Trafficking and Disability Work Group’s Steering Committee.

Panelists

OLGA TRUJILLO, Vera Institute of Justice. Olga Trujillo has extensive experience working to address human trafficking and supporting people with Dissociative Identity Disorder, which is likely common among trafficking victims. Additionally, they have experience supporting gender-based violence programs in centering the needs of survivors of color.

JUSTINE "JUSTICE" SHORTER, National Disability Rights Network (NDRN). Justice Shorter currently works as NDRN’s Disaster Protection Advisor, providing the Protection & Advocacy system with technical assistance and trainings related to disaster protections, emergency management, fire safety, and humanitarian crises/conflicts. She serves on the National Human Trafficking and Disability Work Group’s Steering Committee.

ERIKA REIL, Vermont Center for Independent Living (VCIL). Erika lives with multiple disabilities and works at VCIL, a disability rights organization. Erika is the Chair of the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) council in Vermont. She travels around the state and country providing training on disability rights and culture. She has presented to national audiences on human trafficking of people with disabilities as a consultant for such human rights organizations as the International Organization for Adolescents.

Co-sponsors

Autism Connection of Pennsylvania

Black Girls Equity Alliance

City of Pittsburgh Gender Equity Commission

Gwen's Girls

Institute on Disabilities at Temple University

New Voices for Reproductive Justice

Opportunity Fund

Pittsburgh Center for Autistic Advocacy

Pittsburgh Council on Higher Education (PCHE)

Self Advocates United as 1

SisTers PGH

University of Pittsburgh School of Education