PROVIDENCE, RI (August 7, 2007). Today's sentencing of a RIPTA bus driver in the sexual assault of
three passengers was called "monumental" and "groundbreaking" by the Executive Director of Day One, formerly the Sexual Assault & Trauma Resource Center.
The case involved multiple instances of sexual assault of three different women, all of whom were passengers of the RIDE program for people with disabilities.
"The important message from this case," said Day One Executive Director Peg Langhammer, "is that all victims who come forward must be heard. These three women displayed extreme bravery in speaking up
about their abuse. People with disabilities are often perceived as less credible, yet, at the same time, they are often the most vulnerable. We commend the judge, jury, and the court for taking these charges
seriously and arriving at a satisfactory and fair decision."
This spring, Day One staff announced they had received a three-year grant from the Office of Violence
Against Women to improve the ability of service providers in the state to identify and respond to sexual assault and other forms of violence against people with disabilities.
The Rhode Island Children's Advocacy Center (CAC), a program of Day One, conducts interviews of adults with developmental disabilities in cases of sexual assault. Using a nationally recognized model, the CAC
provides a multidisciplinary approach in sexual abuse and severe physical abuse cases among children and adults with developmental disabilities that reduces the trauma to the victim in coming forward and reporting the crime.
About Day One
Day One's mission is to reduce the prevalence of sexual abuse and violence, and to support and advocate
for those affected by it. For more than 30 years, Day One has been on the forefront of efforts to end sexual violence in R.I. with increased expertise in working with vulnerable populations. Established in 1973
as the R.I. Rape Crisis Center, Day One is the only agency in R.I. organized specifically to deal with issues of sexual assault as a community concern. For more information, visit
