More and more sexual abuse victims have been coming forward over the past two weeks, and the founder of a local support group says he is receiving phone calls every single day.
Tom Travers says part of the healing process for sexual abuse victims is being able to speak to other victims. That's why he created the support group William's Place.
The group talks about their abuse and the stages of healing.
Travers is a victim himself. He says he was raped by a priest at Nativity of Our Lord Parish in Orchard Park at the age of nine where he served as an altar boy in the 1970s.
Travers goal is to educate society on the effects of sexual abuse throughout a victim's life and added the importance of knowing the signs.
"It's essential that we put laws in place that hold institutions and individuals accountable for crimes against children," he said.
He says it's time for state lawmakers to pass the child victims act, which would expand the statue of limitations to age 28 in criminal cases and 50 in civil cases of child sex abuse.
The group meets Tuesdays and Thursdays. Click here to learn more.
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