Invisible Injuries: Acquired Disabilities from Violence

In this session from Activating Change, presenters will explore the complex and often overlooked intersection of violence, trauma, and brain injury. They will also highlight pioneering research in Ohio that examines the connection between brain injury and domestic violence. Finally, they’ll introduce CARE, a trauma-informed, brain injury-aware framework designed to improve awareness, accommodations, and accessibility. You’ll leave with practical, free tools to implement in your organization to better support individuals affected by these issues.

Featuring Rachel Ramirez, Ohio Domestic Violence Network

Rachel Ramirez is the Director of Health and Disability Programs and the Founder of The Center on Partner-Inflicted Brain Injury at The Ohio Domestic Violence Network (ODVN). Her focus is on supporting professionals and systems to better understand traumatic stress and the impact of brain injury, which translates into more accessible and effective services. She provides extensive statewide, national, and international training, technical assistance, consultation, and program support. Rachel also supervises Ohio’s Office on Violence Against Women Disability Grant Program’s statewide collaboration of forensic nursing, brain injury, and domestic and sexual violence services, funded since 2020.

Rachel has co-authored several peer reviewed journal articles and has been featured on National Public Radio and CBS News as well as in The New York Times Magazine and The Washington Post. Rachel has a master’s in social work from The Ohio State University and is a licensed independent social worker and a registered advocate with senior standing and has been with ODVN for 18 years.

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