The History
Voices of Change 2018 ("VOC18") was founded by Nicole Moehring and her daughter Maci Lynch. The passion and drive behind starting this organization came after Maci and her brother Evan, who was diagnosed with Fragile X Syndrome and Autism, were both unfortunate victims of sexual abuse and assault.
VOC18 is unique because it is not disability specific such as Autism Speaks, The Upside of Downs or United Cerebral Palsy. VOC18 helps children with disabilities under the age of 21 with cognitive, intellectual and physical disabilities, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, or gender identity. Services also extend to the child's families and/or guardians.
VOC18's Founder, Nicole Moehring, never realized how vulnerable her son was to abuse because no one talks about the statistics and there is very little preventive education. Nicole believes with proper education; she and her family would have been better prepared and able to help her son.
Nicole felt that, because Evan has a disability, his rights were taken away, he was discriminated against, and his voice wasn’t heard. She felt very alone in her quest for justice and finding support and resources for his road to recovery.
Children with disabilities, who have been victims of abuse/assault, need a voice, advocates, preventive education, access to support systems and recovery.
VOC18 is unique because it is not disability specific such as Autism Speaks, The Upside of Downs or United Cerebral Palsy. VOC18 helps children with disabilities under the age of 21 with cognitive, intellectual and physical disabilities, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, or gender identity. Services also extend to the child's families and/or guardians.
VOC18's Founder, Nicole Moehring, never realized how vulnerable her son was to abuse because no one talks about the statistics and there is very little preventive education. Nicole believes with proper education; she and her family would have been better prepared and able to help her son.
Nicole felt that, because Evan has a disability, his rights were taken away, he was discriminated against, and his voice wasn’t heard. She felt very alone in her quest for justice and finding support and resources for his road to recovery.
Children with disabilities, who have been victims of abuse/assault, need a voice, advocates, preventive education, access to support systems and recovery.
The mission, The vision
How VOC18 Is Accomplishing Its Mission and Vision
THE VISION
By sharing lived experiences and through collaboration with law enforcement, mental health and medical professionals and other similar organizations, VOC18 is building a foundation of advocacy, awareness, resources, and support for children with disabilities and their families.
THE MISISON
To reduce the risk of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of children with disabilities.
ACCOMPLISHING THE MISSION
VOC18 is accomplishing its mission through:
AWARENESS/ADVOCACY • COLLABORATION •EDUCATION •EMPOWERMENT • JUSTICE • RESPECT
AWARENESS/ADVOCACY: The goal of VOC18 is to create awareness of the global epidemic of the abuse of children with disabilities and to advocate for them.
COLLABORATION: Through collaboration of local, state and national organizations, VOC18 seeks to form partnerships to strengthen its mission and vision.
EDUCATION: VOC18 believes that education of children with disabilities, their families and the community is essential to the prevention of abuse.
EMPOWERMENT: VOC18’s position is that through appropriate education, children with disabilities will develop self-awareness of their bodies and be able to identify unsafe situations and how to tell people in their safe circle if they feel they have been abused.
JUSTICE: VOC18’s position is that the path to justice, in whatever form, should be equal and accessible to all.
RESPECT: VOC18’s philosophy is that everyone should be treated with dignity, equality, and respect. Everyone’s voice has a right to be heard.
Statistics
They are 3.7 times more likely than non-disabled peers to be victims of some form of violence, 3.6 times more likely to be victims of physical violence and 2.9 times more likely to be victims of sexual violence.
Often, children with disabilities do not realize they are being abused.
Many times, the perpetrator is the child’s primary caregiver, a family member or someone the family or child knows.
Perpetrators often threaten children, so they are afraid to tell anyone. Allowing the abuse to continue and as a result, the child more than likely will suffer from extensive trauma.
Lack of preventative education, resources, supports for providers, along with the stigma of not talking about body safety, abuse, body autonomy, etc., put children with disabilities at an increased risk of being abused.
Abuse of children with disabilities is a global epidemic.
A Message From THE VOC18 Founders
Our family went through this. We should have had access to support and services. We didn’t. We felt the devastation. We never want anyone else to feel that way.
We are committed to building a foundation from our lived experience to make that a reality by providing:
1. Advocating and preventative education for children with disabilities, their parents, medical professionals and law enforcement
2. Guidance, resources, and support for victims and their families
Nicole Moehring, Founder Maci Lynch, Co - founder
the Team
the Board of Directors
Voices of Change 2018 is governed by a dedicated Board of Directors.
David Dohnal
Board Member
Probate Judge Appointment The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Assistant General Counsel (Retired)
Kathy Morris-McCandless
Treasurer
American Greetings (Retired)
Pat Murray
Board President
Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Clare Quartaraco
Secretary
Owner, LaVida Massage
Joseph Storad
Board Member
Summit County Sheriff's Office Detective (Retired)