Sexual Assault, Oregon State University

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Myths & Facts

Myth: Strangers are the most likely perpetrators, so people with disabilities must be kept in protective environments such as state schools, state hospitals, nursing homes, and group homes.
Fact: Persons who live in congregate living facilities face an increased likelihood that they will be sexually abused. Strangers are sometimes perpetrators, but research has clearly documented that the most likely perpetrators are persons who have an established relationship with the individual with disabilities.

Myth: People with disabilities are asexual.
Fact: People with disabilities develop physiologically in a similar way to people without disabilities and have sexual urges, feelings, and reactions.

Myth: Males are generally at lower risk for sexual assault so males with disabilities are rarely sexually abused.
Fact: Boys and men with disabilities are sexually abused less often than females with disabilities, but studies have shown that males with disabilities encounter sexual abuse at a higher rate than males without disabilities.

Myth: People with cognitive disabilities are not affected by sexual abuse.
Fact: Persons with all types of disabilities, including cognitive disabilities, experience trauma, physical injury, and social consequences of abuse.

Myth: People with disabilities cannot benefit from crisis intervention or counseling.
Fact: Individuals with disabilities have feelings and can heal and learn to empower themselves through crisis intervention and counseling services.