Autism Connection of PA Director Appointed to Victims' Services Advisory Committee
By Luciana Randall, Executive Director, Autism Connection of PA
We, at Autism Connection of PA, help with so many of your calls about victimization, bullying, harassment, physical abuse, neglect, exploitation, sexual abuse or rape, and some of our families are survivors of homicide. People with disabilities are victimized at a rate seven times higher than other citizens, according to federal crime statistics. We need to continue to improve treatment of disabled victims, and to facilitate their testimony. They deserve accommodations and support as they seek justice for any crime done to them. That is why I am honored to have been appointed by Governor Tom Wolf to the Victims' Services Advisory Committee (VSAC), which is part of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. VSAC serves in an advisory capacity to the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, and assures that the voices, needs and perspectives of all crime victims/survivors will be considered in the development of services, services standards, policies, funding priorities, legislation and outcomes.
While participating in VSAC meetings, I realized that we may isolate ourselves by the labels of "person with a disability", "autistic" or "parent/guardian", not realizing when one is a crime victim as well. All victims are entitled to free recovery and support services offered in that system. That is why I am glad to be a welcome disability voice at the VSAC table until 2022. We need to knit these systems together to provide excellence in victims services for people with disabilities.
Thank you so much, and please remember to always reach out to us with any concerns related to these or other autism-related concerns.