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Sunday, July 21, 2024

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VP Kamala Harris says she plans to 'earn and win' Democratic nomination after Joe Biden drops out and endorses her; New Alabama bill threatens voter rights, legal challenge ensues; Fact-checking GOP claims on immigrants; Water contamination a concern in Midwest flood aftermath.

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President Joe Biden drops his 2024 re-election bid. He's endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to take his spot on the ticket, and election experts say they see benefits to this decision.

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It's grass-cutting season and with it, rural lawn mower races, Montana's drive-thru blood project is easing shortages, rural Americans spend more on food when transportation costs are tallied, and a lack of good childcare is thwarting rural business owners.

Preventing Sexual Assault Against NY'ers with Developmental Disabilities

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Monday, August 21, 2023   

Advocates for New Yorkers with disabilities are voicing concerns about cases of sexual assault against people with developmental disabilities.

Federal figures show sexual assault cases against this population rose 27% between 2017 and 2019 - and fewer people with disabilities report these incidents.

Sharon McLennon-Wier, Ph.D. - executive director of the Center for Independence of the Disabled New York (CIDNY) - noted that the crime might not be reported because the person is unaware of what happened, or could be non-verbal.

She said she thinks developmentally disabled people need health and sex education, as much as any other group of young people.

"There still should be some level of health education," said McLennon-Wier, "so that those students can get the same kind of information about appropriate touching, and understanding their bodies - making sure that they have good hygiene, understand how to go to the doctor for problems."

A variety of sex education programs are designed around a person's intellectual ability level.

McLennon-Wier said she would also like to see police officers better trained to help those with developmental disabilities feel more comfortable reporting an assault.

CIDNY believes there should be a legislative component to this issue, as well. States like Connecticut have laws helping protect people with disabilities from perpetrators.

McLennon-Wier described what she'd like to see from New York.

"If there is a sexual assault to this population that does get to the level of the police and investigation," said McLennon-Wier, "as a public, we should need to know about that, because this is someone's daughter or someone's son that is being victimized."

Last year, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the Adult Survivors Act, which allows people to file lawsuits against their abusers for sexual assaults which occurred when they were over 18. The one-year window is set to expire this November.



Disclosure: Center for Independence of the Disabled New York contributes to our fund for reporting on Disabilities. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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Vice President Kamala Harris spoke at a political event in Grand Rapids, Mich., in early 2024. (The White House/Wikimedia Commons)

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