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Introducing Safeline's 2024 Autumn Newsletter!

Updated: Nov 4, 2024


About Safeline: Safeline works to end physical, emotional and sexual violence against women and children through direct service, education, advocacy, and social change Changes in the Law - S.278 The Vermont legislature has passed protections aimed at helping victims of sexual abuse in civil suits. This law bars something called a contributory negligence defense. Survivors are now able to pursue justice without the fear of being blamed for their assault. It is shocking that such a defense has ever been allowed, but thankfully the Vermont legislature have done away with it. One of the greatest barriers to seeking help and reporting abuse is the victim feeling they are to blame for what has happened to them. When people speak or behave in a way that reinforces this feeling of self-blame, the impact of the abuse may be greater, leading to a longer recovery. " - Welsh Womens Aid

Interview With A Donor: Kathy Nelson Q1. What was your initial connection to Safeline, and what has changed since then ? My initial connection was moving to Vermont and retiring. My friend Louise and I got together and she said, I’m a board member of Safeline and explained what Safeline was and asked if I wanted to be on the board. I said yes. I was looking to give back to the community. Q2. What motivated you to support Safeline financially? I was on the board. I have worked in the past as a law professor, and was active in women’s issue and knew about problems of how bad domestic violence, is particularly in the rural state of Vermont. Safeline does important work by helping victims of domestic and sexual violence. Small organizations need all the money Q3. What aspects of Safeline’s services do you feel are most valuable? That’s an impossible question. Individual services they give to clients like the emergency line, and helping put lives back together is important. Equally as important is the education Safeline provides. Q4. Which services do you wish the public knew more about? All the services Safeline does, many women know about Safeline, but not enough people do in general. Also, the education services they provide Q5. What is your relationship with the Staff/board of Safeline? I was on the board for six years and knew the staff and worked with the board. Since no longer on the board, I am still in contact with Linda. I follow Safeline through the monthly reports, town giving list, and watching for articles in the paper

Q6. How has your view on domestic and sexual violence changed over time ? It hasn’t changed over time, it needs fixing and awareness. The more awareness, the better. It’s become a more prevalent problem over time. Q7. What changes would you like to see in how society treats domestic and sexual violence? I would like it for there to be more awareness, more education, and more resources. Q8. What would you say to someone considering donating to Safeline or another organization like it? To absolutely do it! The more they can afford the better

Staff Interview With Safeline's Volunteer Coordinator Laura What has your experience been working on Safeline’s website and training videos? Interesting, it’s gotten me to be able to work on new skills like closed captioning and website maintenance, and, shown how little changes can make a big difference. We are not experts so any feedback or critiques are always welcome What was the focus of the changes that have been made? The Center for Crime Victim Services started the Inclusion Diversity Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) Institute. Safeline worked with them to develop an IDEA Goal: “Safeline will review and revamp our website and training videos to improve accessibility for people with visual, hearing, sensory, cognitive, and developmental disabilities to ensure that our information is clear and concise.” This goal should make Safeline more accessible to those who need it. What have been the most significant changes? Sweeping changes have been made through the suggestion of a media professional. The changes include Alt text to pictures in blog posts and social media posts, improving color contrast on the website, increasing font sizes and lightened background color, darkened boxes and changed colors to improve contrast, checking keyboard navigation, checking links, plain language where we can. Subtitles are also being added to our training videos. We have a winner! The King family from Randolph has won the pontoon cruise raffle! Safeline sends a big thank you to all who donated. Your help is incredibly important in combating


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