Use this page to find out what Disability Rights Oregon can and cannot help you with, and links to important resources.
Published: 2026
Purpose of this Publication
The Crime Survivor Project at Disability Rights Oregon works to empower survivors of crime with disabilities. If you are a person with a disability who has been a victim of crime, the information on this page should help you navigate next steps and resources that might apply to your situation.
Due to the volume of requests for help that we receive, we cannot provide direct legal representation or assistance to every person. If this page does not answer your legal needs, you may fill out an intake form to request further assistance if your request for assistance falls under “Things We Can Do” below. If we cannot assist you, we do not have the capacity to respond to your inquiry.
Table of Contents
Things We Can Help You With
Things We Cannot Help You With
Know Your Rights Guides
Overview of the Criminal System – What to Expect
Financial Resources/Help
Crime Victim Compensation
Social Security Benefits
Domestic/Family Violence and Sexual Assault
Family Law
Restraining/Protection Orders
Housing Concerns
Neighbor or Property Disputes
Reporting Crime to Police
Reporting Abuse or Neglect of a Person with a Disability to the State Abuse Hotline
Bias Crimes
Mental Health Resources
Legal Resources
Disability Resources
Brain Injury Resource (TBI)
Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse
Things We Can You Help With
The Crime Survivor Project provides legal services to people with disabilities who are survivors of crime. We help children and adults with disabilities who have experienced crime — including sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and abuse — even if the crime has not been reported.
We provide information on victim rights for survivors of crime, including how to request ADA accommodations from the court and apply for Crime Victim Compensation. See the Know Your Rights Guides page or section below for guide topics.
We provide support to survivors through the criminal justice process, including helping survivors write Victim Impact Statements, advocating for investigations, and filing legal documents related to their victim rights.
We advocate for reasonable accommodations under the ADA for crime survivors with disabilities throughout the criminal process.
Things We Cannot You Help With
The Crime Survivor Project is funded by a federal grant. The grant allows us to provide specific types of legal assistance to survivors of crime with disabilities. As a result, there are some things we cannot help you with:
Financial Help
We cannot give you money for any purpose. There may be other community resources that can assist. See Financial Resources/Help section below.
Civil lawsuits
There are two types of legal cases: criminal (accusing someone of a crime and they may be punished if convicted) and civil (suing someone to recover money).
We do not bring civil lawsuits. If you want to sue someone for money or to get them to stop doing something, we cannot represent you in this type of case. See the Legal Resources section below.
Restraining/Protection orders
We are no longer able to represent survivors in restraining order cases, including the EPPDAPA (Elderly Persons and Persons with Disabilities Abuse Prevention Act). See the Restraining/Protection Orders section below.
Family law
If your request for legal services is related to custody of your child(ren) or a divorce, we cannot represent you in that case. If the case number has “DR” in it, we cannot represent you. See the Family Law section below.
Housing
We do not have resources for housing and cannot help with neighbor disputes, property disputes, or issues with your landlord — unless they are directly related to your status as a victim of crime. See the Housing section below.
Criminal Defense
If you are a defendant charged with a crime, we cannot represent you in that court case.
If someone has a restraining order against you, we cannot represent you in that case.
You can still ask us for help if your issue is related to being a crime victim and does not involve the other cases — and is listed in the Things We Can Do section above.
Know Your Rights Guides
Disability Rights Oregon offers many Know Your Rights guides that provide legal information. There may be one that answers your questions. There are guides for crime survivors and for several other topics that might be helpful for your situation. Guides related to crime survivors are::
Know Your Rights guides on other topics that may be of interest for crime survivors include:
Housing, including Fair Housing Handbook
Employment, including How to Request a Reasonable Accommodation at Work
Special Education: A Guide for Parents (available in English and Spanish)
Overview of the Criminal System – What to Expect
If you want to start a criminal case against the person who harmed you, the first step is reporting to police in the location where the crime happened (see Reporting to Police). The police may investigate and determine whether to send the case to the county District Attorney’s Office. Then the District Attorney’s Office decides whether to begin a criminal case against the perpetrator. For more information about that process, see Crime Victim Rights. If the District Attorney’s Office decides to bring a criminal case against the perpetrator, that is the official start of the court case.
Tillamook County has a helpful flow chart that explains the court process. Multnomah County has a Case Companion Portal for victims of crime with cases in that county, plus a helpful website with general information about the criminal system.
If you have questions about any of these steps, or the current status of your case, you can reach out to Victim Assistance in the county where the court case is happening. You can use this website to locate their contact information by county.
Financial Resources/Help
As a nonprofit law firm, Disability Rights Oregon cannot provide any financial or cash assistance, even to victims of crime.
If you need help with housing or financial resources, you can call 211 or visit https://www.211info.org/. Contacting 211 may be the quickest way to find emergency resources.
Crime Victim Compensation
We offer a Know Your Rights guide on Crime Victim Compensation that explains the program and eligibility requirements. We cannot guarantee you are eligible for the fund. However, the guide will help you determine whether you are eligible and how to contact Crime Victim Compensation, including through their web portal.
Crime Victim Compensation also has a website with more information.
Social Security Benefits
If you haven't already, you may want to apply for disability benefits through the Social Security Administration. You can start applying for benefits online.
We also provide detailed information about Social Security benefits and Representative Payees.
If you have concerns that a Representative Payee is misusing a beneficiary’s funds, you can contact your local Social Security Administration office — enter your zip code on the form for the address.
If you are applying for Social Security benefits, you might consider applying for the General Assistance Program to Prevent Homelessness. Their website lists the eligibility requirements and other things to consider.
Domestic/Family Violence and Sexual Assault
If you are experiencing domestic violence and/or sexual assault, you are not alone. Oregon has many resources that can help you.
The most important thing is your safety. If you are in immediate danger, you should call 911.
If you want to remove yourself from the unsafe situation, safety planning is an important first step. Safety planning means talking with a specially-trained domestic violence advocate about how to keep yourself safe.
Disability Rights Oregon does not provide safety planning. It is best to reach out to a domestic violence agency in your area. To find help, you can use the Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence (OCADSV) website. They have resources to find a nearby agency to connect with for support — many of which offer hotline support 24 hours every day. Plus, they may refer you to emergency shelter.
Other resources include:
Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) is a free mail forwarding service. It helps survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking keep their physical address private by providing a substitute address to use instead. You must work with a certified Application Assistance to get a substitute address. Look up certified specialists to help you apply >
FinAbility is an online resource for domestic violence survivors who have experienced financial abuse. Their website has helpful resources, including a toolkit that can help you decide your next steps after financial abuse.
Oregon Law Help has guides for survivors of domestic violence, including information on Workplace Protections and Housing Protections.
Family Law
Disability Rights Oregon does not practice family law. If the case involves a custody dispute, divorce, parenting time, or similar matters, we cannot provide legal advice.
There are options for finding legal counsel for family law cases:
The Commons Law Center provides pay-as-you-go legal coaching for family law and information about preparing for court.
St Andrew Legal Clinic serves low-income families with their family law needs. They have offices in Multnomah County and Washington County.
Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO) has regional offices throughout the state for low-income communities. Each regional office has specific intake information on their website.
Oregon Law Center also has regional offices that serve low-income Oregonians with their legal rights. You can find regional offices and eligibility information on their website.
Oregon State Bar Legal Referral Service is another option for finding legal help. Its Moderate Means Program is for moderate-income Oregonians, if you qualify. Office hours are 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Monday-Friday. You can call 503-684-3763 or 800-452-7636.
Restraining/Protection Orders
Disability Rights Oregon can no longer provide representation at restraining order hearings due to cuts to grant funding.
Oregon Law Help offers guides about the different kinds of restraining orders available in Oregon and how to apply for one. They also have information on preparing for a contested hearing.
We also have a Know Your Rights guide on the Elderly Persons and Persons with Disabilities Abuse Prevention Act (EPPDAPA) restraining order, specifically for people with disabilities. These guides outline what you would need to show or prove to the judge to get a restraining order or have your temporary restraining order upheld.
A domestic violence agency may have advocates who can talk with you about restraining orders. The Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence (OCADSV) has a find help resource for nearby agency support.
Depending on your county, there may be advocates available at the courthouse to help you fill out the paperwork. Multnomah County, for example, has in-person assistance through Volunteers of America - Home Free at the courthouse. Please check their website for current hours of operation.
Housing
If you are facing eviction proceedings, you should reach out to Oregon Law Center’s Eviction Defense Project as soon as possible (before your court date). Their phone number is 888-585-9638. They also have an online intake form.
If you’re in Multnomah County, The Commons Law Center is another option for help with eviction defense for renters.
We also offer several resources on housing, including a Fair Housing Handbook: Reasonable Accommodations & Modifications.
Additional housing resources with information on their websites include:
Community Alliance of Tenants – they provide tenant education, advocacy, and organizing.
They operate a Renters’ Rights Hotline: 503-288-0130 (refer to their website for hotline hours).
Oregon Law Help – they have guides and legal information:
Housing Protections for Victims of Domestic Violence and Certain Other Crimes
Landlord-Tenant Law in Oregon Handbook (available in English and Spanish)
Fair Housing Council of Oregon – they work to eliminate housing discrimination through access to enforcement and education and provide legal assistance with reasonable accommodations. They have numbers for fair housing questions and complaints, with interpreters available: (503) 223-8197 ext. 2 or (800) 424-3237 ext. 2. They also have an online form to report housing discrimination.
Neighbor or Property Disputes
We are unable to assist with disputes between neighbors or over property.
You may consider searching for mediation resources in your county.
If you believe you are being abused, as a person with a disability, you can review our Know Your Rights Guide on the Elderly Persons and Persons with Disabilities Abuse Prevention Act (EPPDAPA) restraining order. See the section on Restraining/Protection Orders.
Reporting Crime to Police
Disability Rights Oregon offers a Know Your Rights Guide on Reporting to Police that explains the process. It can also helpyou decide whether you want to report the crime against you to police.
The first step in starting the criminal process is reporting to police in the location where the crime happened. This may be the city or town police, if the crime happened there, or the county sheriff’s office, if the crime happened in an unincorporated area. Many city or town police agencies or county sheriff’s offices have information about how to report non-emergencies on their websites. If the situation is an emergency and someone is in immediate danger, you should call 911 instead.
You are entitled to ADA accommodations, which can include a support person, through the police reporting and criminal process. Our Know Your Rights guide on Accommodations to Access Courts has more information about reasonable accommodations.
To learn more about what might happen after you report to police, you can review the “Overview of the Criminal System – What to Expect” section above.
Reporting Abuse or Neglect of a Person with a Disability to the State Abuse Hotline
You can report abuse or neglect of a child or adult with a disability to the Oregon State Abuse Hotline. Their phone number is 855-503-SAFE (7233).
This is a different system than reporting to police, which you may also consider if the abuse or neglect is a crime. See Reporting Crime to Police section above.
Bias Crimes
A bias incident is any hostile expression that may be motivated by another person’s actual or perceived protected class (meaning their race, color, disability, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity). The act does not need to be a crime. A bias crime — or hate crime — is a crime motivated in part or whole by bias against another person’s actual or perceived protected class (race, color, disability, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity).
Definitions from: Oregon Department of Justice.
The Bias Response Hotline is a non-emergency phone number that helps track hate and bias incidents and provides resources for those impacted.
Phone: 1-844-924-BIAS (2427)
Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
You can also report online anytime on their website.
Mental Health Resources
988 is a Suicide & Crisis lifeline available 24/7 via phone, text, chat, or Videophone to provide support in behavioral health emergencies. The Oregon Health Authority has more information about 988 and how to find providers, county-specific crisis lines, issue-specific phone lines, and more.
Legal Resources
If you are seeking legal assistance, you can contact:
Oregon State Bar Legal Referral Service. There is also a Moderate Means Program for people who need financial help if you qualify for the program.
Hours are 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Monday-Friday
Phone: 503-684-3763 or 800-452-7636.
Oregon Law Help is a fantastic resource with lots of legal information on a range of topics. They can also help connect you with an attorney.
Legal Aid Services of Oregon has regional offices throughout the state for low-income communities. Each regional office has specific intake information.
Oregon Law Center also has regional offices that serve low-income Oregonians with their legal rights. Their website has links to their regional offices with eligibility information.
Oregon Free Legal Answers is a virtual legal advice clinic for qualifying users with civil (not criminal) legal questions.
Disability Resources
If you are interested in support as an individual with a disability, there are several state and community resources you may want to reach out to:
Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) Aging and Disability Services may provide more information about the options available to you. You can search for your nearest office here.
Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC). They provide information and resources. Their statewide number is 855-673-2372, or you can connect with a local office.
Centers for Independent Living assist people with disabilities to gain independence, access, and inclusion in society. Oregon’s options can be found here. They may be able to guide you in achieving independence in your community.
If you have intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, you may consider applying for services through your local community developmental disabilities program (CDDP).
Brain Injury Resource (TBI)
Oregon has a Brain Injury Program for those with brain injuries, including traumatic brain injury (TBI). It is a free service designed to help individuals with brain injuries and their families navigate and access the services and supports available to them.
People who need help can call 1-833-685-0848 or use TTY calls by dialing 711. Phone lines are open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse
OAASIS (Oregon Abuse Advocates & Survivors in Service) is a non-profit serving survivors of child sexual abuse. Their website has more information about the support they may offer.
You may want to review our Reporting Crime to Police section above if you are interested in pursuing a criminal case against your abuser.
You may also want to review our Legal Resources section above if you are interested in talking with a lawyer about bringing a civil lawsuit against them.
It is important to know there may be statutes of limitations for both civil and criminal court cases, so you should consider speaking with an attorney about those deadlines.
Copyright © 2026 Disability Rights Oregon
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E-mail: welcome@droregon.org
Website: droregon.org
Disability Rights Oregon is tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions are tax-deductible and will be used to promote the rights of Oregonians with disabilities.
Portions of this document may be reproduced without permission, provided that Disability Rights Oregon is appropriately credited.
NOTICE: This document is not intended as a substitute for legal advice. It is provided as a public service. You do not have an attorney-client relationship with DRO. If you need legal advice, you should contact an attorney. Please see the Legal Resources section above. We do not guarantee any individual or organization included in this material will represent or assist you. DRO cannot guarantee the quality of this individual’s or organization’s representation.
