Women Against Abuse Feature Story

Contact: 100 South Broad Street, Suite 1341Philadelphia, PA 19110215.386.1280

Handicapped woman escapes abusive father and reunites with her son due to help
from Women Against Abuse
Story by: Maureen Mahoney
Philadelphia Times
Alyssa* had been living with her parents and was restricted to a wheelchair due to underdeveloped limbs. She was abused by her father and denied access to her four-year old
son.
She escaped the abusive situation by fleeing to a local shelter. But that shelter was not
handicap accessible, and Alyssa was forced to crawl to use the bathroom due to the lack
of assistive technology to accommodate her needs.
Alyssa contacted Women Against Abuse, and moved to the Women Against Abuse
Emergency Shelter, which is equipped with handicapped accessible features.
While at the shelter, Alyssa worked with case managers to transition into her own
housing. Staff members researched handicapped accessible locations and found an
affordable arrangement that worked for Alyssa and her son.
In addition, Legal Center attorneys helped Alyssa file a protection from abuse order
against her father and also receive a court order for Alyssas son to be returned to her.
When Alyssas father continued to refuse to relinquish her son and her assistive
technology equipment, WAA staff asked law enforcement to intervene.
Alyssa and the Women Against Abuse staff had to overcome some false perceptions of
individuals who have disabilities. Segments of the law enforcement field refused to
intervene when Alyssas father would not return her son, claiming Alyssa could not care
for him.
Women Against Abuse staff reminded law enforcement officials that the court order
deemed Alyssa a fit parent and reached out to the Sheriffs Department to enforce the
order. Through the collaborative work of the Legal Center and Emergency Shelter, Alyssa
was able to provide parental care to her son and live independently, free from violence.
I do not know where I would be without everyone at WAA. I cannot thank them enough,
they changed my life forever! -Alyssa
*Clients name has been changed to preserve confidentiality.