CARE provides confidential services, support, advocacy, and related referrals for all survivors of interpersonal violence at UCSB, including students, staff, faculty, alumni, and connected community members. This includes survivors with disabilities. 

CARE is here for all survivors. We believe you and we are here for you throughout your healing process. Your ability or medication status has nothing to do with the validity of your story or survivorship. Whether your disability is considered visible or invisible, CARE is here to support you and work together to best meet your needs. CARE advocates are sensitive to the differing needs of each survivor and will work with you in understanding and accessing the support services you desire. We will always follow your lead in terms of the services you want to move forward with and those you do not wish to participate in.

CARE partners with the Disabled Students Program (DSP) to support student survivors with a wide range of needs. We are committed to making our services accessible for everyone. Survivors are encouraged to share any accommodation needs with their CARE advocate during their appointment, so we can work together to ensure those needs are met. CARE also connects survivors with Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and community providers for mental health support.

What's different about interpersonal
violence for people with disabilities?

While people with disabilities experience forms of interpersonal violence that are very similar to the experiences of people without disabilities, power and control are often exerted in specific ways based on a person’s disability or medical needs.

Some forms of abuse a survivor with a disability may experience include:

  • The perpetrator restricts the survivors access to their medical services, such as doctors’ appointments or medication in order to maintain power and control over the survivor 
  • Blaming the survivor for the violence, saying they were being uncooperative in relation to mobility needs 
  • Denying the violence, for example “I’m not doing that, you are just too pain sensitive.” 
  • Telling the survivor’s other support systems that they are confused or don’t understand what is going on, or telling those support systems that the survivor doesn’t need their assistance while denying them the care they need 
  • Control of financial resources, access to food or transportation services 
  • Telling the survivor that they cannot survive without them, or that no one else will be able to help them

Confidentiality

All faculty and staff who are not confidential are required to report all students’ disclosures of sexual violence, relationship violence, and/or stalking to the Title IX Compliance and Discrimination and Harassment Prevention Office (”TIX/DHP Office”) office to ensure consistent student services and TIX/ DHP policy compliance. A CARE advocate can discuss any student’s concerns one-on-one, without sharing the student’s name, identifying information, or any other details about their visit with CARE with other campus offices, including TIX/DHP. The Disabled Students Program will not be notified that you have visited CARE unless you explicitly request CARE’s assistance in working with them.

Campus Resources

Community & National Resources

CARE recognizes…

CARE recognizes that each individual may hold many of the different identities that our Communities we CARE for pages address. For more information on another identity, please go back to Communities we CARE for.

We support survivors from all backgrounds, the survivors that we serve are not limited to the identities listed on our Communities we CARE for page. If you do not see your identity listed, and would like to learn how interpersonal violence impacts you, please call our 24/7 confidential phone number at 805-893-4613 or make an appointment online to be connected with a confidential advocate.

Making an Appointment
with a CARE Advocate

Make Appointment

Schedule a non-urgent appointment with a CARE Advocate.

For urgent and immediate assistance and to speak with a confidential staff member, please call our 24/7 CARE phone line at 805-893-4613. If you have an emergency or feel that you may be in immediate danger, please call 911. 

If you have experienced a sexual assault within the last five days, call CARE at 805-893-4613 or navigate to the Medical section on our Advocacy Services page on our Survivor Services page to learn about the time-sensitive option to seek a free, confidential forensic medical exam.