The Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC) is the largest and oldest rape crisis center in New England. It was founded over 50 years ago and serves 29 cities and towns and approximately 1.3 million people in the Greater Boston area.
In addition to providing immediate crisis intervention, BARCC also does education and advocacy, all with the mission to end sexual violence.
We have worked on two education and training projects for BARCC. Our first was done in conjunction with the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA). The MBTA RIDE provides door-to-door, public transportation for people who can’t use the subway, bus, or trolley all or some of the time due to temporary or permanent disability.
The goals of the videos are to educate: a) passengers on what steps to take if they believe they have been sexually harassed or assaulted while using the RIDE; and b) RIDE drivers on what procedures to follow if they observe inappropriate behavior or if it’s reported to them.
The most recent series of videos we completed are again training videos, this time for personal care attendants and their disabled employers to help them develop mutually beneficial and respectful relationships. Video topics include: a) recommendations for employers when hiring a PCA; b) setting expectations and boundaries for both the employer and the PCA; and c) seeking support from one another or from outside parties like BARCC.