Using Art to Bring Awareness to Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence

Using Art to Bring Awareness to Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence

Three roses in front of a bigger flower that is difficult to see because of the black back ground.
The black background remains, but the flowers are in full bloom. The previously hard to see bigger flower is now a brilliant blue. The word, HOPE” is written above the blue flower.

*Please Note: IDJ does not align with any one religion, faith, or belief system. Instead, we offer a platform where people with disabilities can express their diverse experiences. Content contains Gina’s story about what happened to her when she was trafficked. Please take care when you read about what happened to Gina.

About the Artist: Gina Hope

I’m a survivor of human trafficking. During that time my spinal cord was injured (leading to constant severe pain & 17 surgeries involving my cervical & thoracic spinal cord causing a whole host of obstacles) and domestic violence (leading to rods & screws in my lower back). But despite how difficult each day & sometimes each minute is God has & continues helping me see good that can come of my circumstances & He’s never allowed me to give up. Around 7yrs ago, a friend met me every week for a year encouraging me to follow my dreams – he convinced me that I was not only capable but that I could accomplish amazing feats others could not because of the insights my experiences have given me. So, I set out to begin the sea of paperwork to start a 501c3 which is Living Legacy Of Hope. I’ve wanted to be an artist my entire life; but I’ve never been able to get on canvas anything close to what I envision.

However, I sought out to learn to paint as I had the idea of painting a Hope Card Collection. God helps me overcome obstacles such as difficulty holding onto the paintbrush because much of my hand is numb. This is the first painting I’ve been able to complete that actually looks like what I envisioned.

This particular painting came out of a very dark time as I had just been viciously attacked (enter rods & screws). The front of this Hope card is the Silhouette of Hope with the Silhouette of the opening Rose while the back is in full color with the Rose & HOPE brightly shining. 

I’ve given this as a Sympathy or Inspiration card to remind the hurting there is always Hope = one of the most important things I say when speaking is that we can overcome no matter what we endure on this earth – although there might be dark times we are never without HOPE. 

https://livinglegacyhope.wixsite.com/hope

Gina Hope: A woman with long blond hair, smiling big.

David Farver: Speaking for Himself

IDJ empowers people by giving them opportunites to share their insights and wisdom. This is a video of David Farver, a muti-dimensional human being sharing what he wants us to know about people with disabilities. People with disabilities can speak for themselves.

( Disclaimer: David mentions how he works in a sheltered workshop. IDJ recognizes the problemic nature of these work environments.)

David Farver: Speaking for Himself

About Presenter:
David Farver was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1981. He moved to Muncie, Indiana in 1985 where he still lives today. He was diagnosed with myotonic muscular dystrophy. He’s active in Special Olympics, Best Buddies of Indiana and Knights of Columbus. He has worked at Beyond I Can since it opened in 2004.

Supporting Survivors with Cognitive and Developmental Disabilities, a Training

Supporting Survivors with Cognitive and Developmental Disabilities

Haleigh Rigger
Haleigh Rigger looks straight into the camera with a slight smile. Haleigh is wearing a heather gray sweater, is wearing cat eye shaped glasses and has long violet hair.

On June 3rd I had the opportunity to present strategies for supporting survivors with cognitive and developmental disabilities thanks to a partnership between my agency, Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking (ICESAHT), and the Bureau of Quality Improvement Services (BQIS), a division of the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA). This training focused on how direct support professionals, case managers, and their leadership teams can best support survivors after they disclose. We also discussed strategies for building trust and rapport and navigating the tricky waters of maintaining a survivor’s privacy while also following state and agency mandates in reporting. Lastly, we invite disability service providers to review their protocols, engage self-advocates in conversations about sexual wellness and violence, and incorporate trauma-informed principles into their organizational culture. You can access the recorded training here and below.

As individuals with developmental disabilities are sexually assaulted at a rate 7x higher than folks without disabilities (NPR, 2018), it is crucial that we in the anti-violence movement partner with caregivers and disability service agencies in responding to and preventing violence against folks with disabilities. Even more important, those of us who are professionals in this movement must center people with disabilities in our anti-violence work and pass the mic to those who are most impacted. It takes multi-disciplinary teams, that are led by and for people with disabilities, to holistically serve survivors and prevent violence from happening in the first place. As my friends and colleagues at Indiana Disability Justice say, “Nothing about us, without us.”

A list of 17 webinars featuring centering disabled people and members of Indiana Disability Justice is available at this link.

Post authored by Haleigh Rigger, Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Violence and Human Trafficking and Indiana Disability Justice Leadership

Posted by Cierra Olivia Thomas-Williams, Indiana Disability Justice Leadership, Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence

COVID-19 Vaccine Advocacy Opportunity & Resources & Information for People with Disabilities and Caregivers

The Center for Health Equity (CHE) at Indiana Institute on Disability and Community at Indiana University is working to improve access to and confidence in COVID-19 vaccine among Hoosiers with disabilities and their caregivers to increase their vaccination rates. CHE has compiled resources about COVID-19 and vaccines for Hoosiers with disabilities and their caregivers; you can view and share this resource at the following URL https://www.iidc.indiana.edu/che/resources/covid-19-vaccination/index.html. 

There is an opportunity for community members to become involved in advocating for vaccination. Are you a person with a disability, or a caregiver who has been vaccinated and would be willing to share your positive experience? CHE has been posting such story on social media to help increase vaccine confidence. CHE will also create several videos a) sharing experience in vaccination, and b) portraying how being fully vaccinated allows people to participate in more social activities while protecting themselves and people around them. If you are from the following counties and are willing to share your story,  please contact Lydia Hamilton at lydhamil@indiana.edu or Don Dumayas at ddumayas@indiana.edu for more information.

CountyPopulationVaccine Rate
LaGrange County39,19321.2%
Newton County13,99223.6%
Franklin County22,77425.0%
Switzerland County10,68525.1%
Daviess County33,12027.6%
Carroll County20,07427.8%
Miami County35,81528.9%
Starke County22,95229.1%
Parke County16,94629.2%
Crawford County10,56930.4%
Fayette County23,19431.0%
Benton County8,67731.2%
Adams County35,37631.5%
Noble County47,50631.8%
Jennings County27,71031.8%