Nassar survivor praises YWCA’s work as ‘absolutely critical’

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The first woman to publicly accuse and pursue criminal charges against disgraced sports doctor Larry Nassar returned to West Michigan Wednesday to support a local group’s work with survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.

Rachael Denhollander, an author, attorney and advocate for sexual abuse survivors, shared her story with 400 people attending the YWCA’s third annual Arise! Spring Luncheon.

“It takes a village to stop an abuser,” Denhollander told the crowd.

In her half-hour speech, she detailed the broad and devastating impacts of sexual abuse and domestic violence.

“One in three women experience domestic violence in their lifetime, while approximately one in four experience sexual violence by the time they reach adulthood,” she said, adding that sexual abuse survivors are three times more likely to experience depression, six times more likely to experience post-traumatic stress disorder, 13 times more likely to abuse alcohol and 26 times more likely to abuse drugs.

“The reality is that the problems of sexual abuse and domestic violence are immense and they’re not going to be easily solved,” Denhollander, who grew up in Kalamazoo, told News 8 in an interview before her remarks.

“The work that the YWCA is doing in the community to provide support and healing services and crisis intervention services for survivors is just absolutely critical,” she continued, “and so to be able to lend my voice to the work that’s been done and has been done for decades I consider an incredible privilege.”

The YWCA has seen a 32% increase in patients accessing its nurse examiner program, demonstrating the need for community-wide action.

“There are still misconceptions about sexual violence, and we need to be there to listen, to believe and allow our survivors to heal,” said Michelle Rabideau, board president for the YWCA West Central Michigan. “(Denhollander’s) message is still so very relevant and it’s important especially during the month of April which is Sexual Abuse and awareness month.”

The speech comes one day after the U.S. Justice Department announced a nearly $140 million settlement for 139 survivors who accused the FBI of mishandling allegations of sexual assault against Nassar.

Nassar will never get out of prison after being sentenced for child pornography and sexual assault charges. Over 150 girls and women, many of them gymnasts and some Olympians, said in court that he sexually abused them under the guise of providing medical treatment when he was a doctor for Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics. Denhollander said she was 15 when the abuse started.

Feds agree to $138.7M settlement over FBI’s botching of Nassar allegations

Dehollander is not part of the group, but said the announcement still gives her hope.

“I do think it is an incredibly important statement because what it is is a recognition really that there was an incredible breakdown with law enforcement and that that breakdown had devastating consequences, so I’m really grateful for the measure of justice that’s come,” Denhollander said.

She added that it also generates some really difficult questions and conversations.

“It took over 500 survivors and almost seven years and multiple Olympians to reach a level of justice, so what happens to the survivor that doesn’t have any of that? Because that’s the majority of survivors,” she said. “It should have never taken this long. It should have never taken this much for people to be able to look at what happened and be able to say that was wrong and we need to fix it.”

Out of every 300 rapes reported to police, Denhollander said that at best, 25 result in criminal conviction and jail time. She’s working with legislatures, medical associations, universities, nonprofits and law schools to look at how to improve accountability and protect the next generation.

“We have a culture and a society and a justice system and institutions that breed abuse and that enable abuse, and we have to grapple with that on a much deeper level than we have been willing to grapple with so far,” Denhollander said.

It’s also making sure survivors feel supported, she added, one of the main missions of the YWCA.

“The reality is every survivor I’ve ever worked with is willing to raise their voice. They lack the channels and the support system in the community to be able to do it,” she explained. “It’s every person’s impact and their own sphere of influence. It’s that conversation, it’s that mindset, it’s that attitude that comes together to create the cultural change that we need.”

You can learn more about the services and resources the YWCA provides on its website.

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