Guidelines for Attorneys in Massachusetts: Representing Sexual Assault Survivors with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

These Guidelines are a framework for attorneys representing victims with I/DD. The Guidelines aim to address the needs of survivors with I/DD, and to encourage attorneys to use the skills they already possess to serve all survivors. While these Guidelines are admittedly only a starting point, they are intended to help attorneys understand the basic needs of clients with I/DD. Ultimately, the best way to determine the needs of a client is communicating with the client directly.

Developed by the Victim Rights Law Center, in Partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Massachusetts Disabled Persons Protection Commission