National Human Trafficking & Disabilities Working Group
National Human Trafficking & Disabilities Working Group
The mission of the National Human Trafficking & Disabilities Working Group (NHTDWG) is to promote a survivor-centered, collaborative approach steeped in disability and racial justice for the prevention of trafficking of people with disabilities and Deaf individuals and ensure an accessible and appropriate response to survivors. NHTDWG is a collaboration of professionals, self-advocates, and survivors from all around the United States. We work to create resources and to address gaps in research, social services, and legal services for individuals with disabilities who are at risk of trafficking or who may have experienced trafficking. The leadership and membership of NHTDWG is formed from experts and self-advocates from the anti-trafficking and disability communities. NHTDWG is a volunteer-run collaboration and is funded through your donations! With your help, we can continue important research and advocacy work on the intersection of human trafficking and disabilities. Thank you for donating! We appreciate your support!About NHTDWG
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NHTDWG Structure
Steering Committee
The NHTDWG Steering Committee consists of experts and self-advocates from the fields of human trafficking and disabilities.
Learn moreNHTDWG Coordinator
The NHTDWG Coordinator oversees the progress of the working group.
NHTDWG Subcommittees
- Training and Education
- Capacity and Community Building
- Research and Policy Advocacy
Stay Connected!
Contact NHDWTG
NHTDWG offers on-demand training and education, consultation and resources around the intersection of human trafficking and disabilities.
Please email [email protected] to request a speaker for your event, on demand training, or ask any questions you may have.
Thank you.
Contact UsNHTDWG Resource Center
Not ready to schedule a training, but want to learn more?
Visit our Resources page for NHTDWG reports, past trainings, and educational materials on the intersection of human trafficking and disabilities.
Resource Center
News and Upcoming Events
NHTDWG Annual Report is here!
Click here to read our Annual Report and learn about our impact and biggest projects in 2022.
Check back later for upcoming NHTDWG News and Events!
Past Projects
NHTTAC School Project
NHTDWG consulted the National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center (NHTTAC) to build accessibility and inclusivity for students with disabilities into the human trafficking curricula for middle schools and high schools. In conjunction with the The Human Trafficking Youth Prevention Education (HTYPE) pilot program, an ad hoc committee of NHTDWG members worked with the San Diego School district, to review the pilot curricula and to incorporate accessibility considerations and learning scenarios including students with disabilities into the curriculum and Training of Trainers (ToT) materials.
NHTDWG Spring Webinar Series
In May, the National Human Trafficking and Disabilities Working Group hosted a webinar series on Human Trafficking and Disability Justice. This 3-part webinar series included training on Trauma-Informed Care: Providing Services and Support for People with Disabilities; Trafficking During Crises: Centering Race, Gender and Disability; as well as a panel discussion on Serving Youth Survivors with Disabilities.
Training the National Human Trafficking Hotline!
The National Human Trafficking Hotline connects individuals who have been labor or sex trafficked with services and support around the country to help them get to safe situations. At the end of 2021, The National Human Trafficking and Disabilities Working Group was invited to train the hotline advocates on working with individuals with a disability.
NHTDWG members Justice Shorter, Ali Chiu, Ericka Reil, and Melanie Cross trained over 50 advocates in finding and providing accessible resources, assessing for disabilities in intake calls, finding alternate pathways to involving law enforcement and creating safety plans with individuals with a disability. Advocates had the opportunity to role-play potential calls that hotline may receive and properly assess for different disabilities. Furthermore, advocates were provided information on harm reduction strategies, disability justice and etiquette, active listening, and trauma-informed care while doing critical needs assessments. The hotline advocates were encouraged to continue creating relationships with accessible organizations and to create a database of accessible resources to reference when needed.
Click here to watch an April 2021 NHTDWG Educational Session on “The Power of Language” with Ali Chiu of San Francisco SafeHouse
Support Our Work
NHTDWG is a volunteer-run collaboration and is funded through your donations! With your help, we can continue important research and advocacy work on the intersection of human trafficking and disabilities.
Donations help us ensure our platforms, trainings and resources are accessible for people with disabilities and Deaf individuals. We strongly believe survivors and self-advocates should always be compensated for their time. Your donations help us provide adequate compensation for survivors and self-advocates who create and present trainings to the anti-trafficking and the disability communities.
Thank you for donating! We appreciate your support!