Development of an Accessible Audio Computer-Assisted Self-Interview (A-CASI) to Screen for Abuse and Provide Safety Strategies for Women With Disabilities
By Oschwald, Mary; Renker, Paula; Hughes, Rosemary B.; Arthur, Anne; Powers, Laurie E.; Curry, Mary Ann; Journal of Interpersonal Violence,Publication Date: May 2008
Article outlining the development and evaluation of the Safer and Stronger Program (SPP), an audio computer-assisted self-interview (A-CASI) program created for women with disabilities for the purposes of increasing awareness of abuse, encouraging safety-planning behaviors, and providing information about community resources. The need for such a program was considered as women with disabilities constitute about 18 percent of the U.S. non-institutionalized civilian population of women aged 16 to 64 years, and 44 percent of women 65 and older, and are at comparable or greater risk for abuse than women without disabilities. The A-CASI was developed and evaluated using 305 women with disabilities aged 23 to 84 years recruited from various community agencies in Southeast Texas, Southwest Washington, and Oregon. The CASI questions covered the following topics: (1) general demographic and disability-related; (2) abuse awareness; (3) specific abuse screening; and (4) barriers and facilitators to reporting abuse. The final interview section asked participants to evaluate the SSP in terms of usability and comfort, given the private, confidential nature of the computer-assisted interview. After completing the program, participants were offered abuse-related resource information such as the numbers for their local crisis line and national domestic and sexual violence hotlines. Participants’ responses to the program were found to be extremely positive. Analysis of field notes maintained by research assistants concluded that (1) the program increased understanding and awareness of being victimized, and (2) it accommodated personal needs. Limitations to the program and implications for further development are discussed.
Published by: Sage Publications (Website:http://www.sagepub.com)
Link to text: http://jiv.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/0886260508317175v1
This publication is included in the library of the National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC), accession number J54415
