Differently-Abled Survivors

The problem of abuse of women with disabilities is wide-spread. It may be hard to believe that someone would hurt a person who uses a wheelchair or someone who has any type of impairment. Persons who sexually offend against people with disabilities may be paid or volunteer caregivers, family members, intimate partners, disability service providers, friends, acquaintances, special transit bus drivers, or strangers. The most likely sexual predators though are persons who are known to the individual with a disability.

People with differing disabilities may face increased vulnerability factors to sexual assault or abuse that are related to their disability. A risk factor for sexual and other types of abuse against persons with disabilities stems from the fact that they must content with the possibility of violence inflicted by caregivers or personal care attendants. Care providers frequently have close, personal, and frequent contact with people with disabilities. These relationships often resemble the intimate type of relationships many people have with partners.

The following are some vulnerability factors faced by individuals with physical, cognitive, sensory, and speech disabilities:

• Persons with disabilities may depend on others to meet some of their basic needs. Care providers may be involved in the most intimate and personal parts of the individual's life (assistance with bathing, toileting, changing clothes, other hygiene-related tasks), which can increase the opportunity for sexually abusive acts. Persons with physical disabilities may be less able to defend themselves or to escape sexually abusive situations.

• Persons with cognitive limitations may be overly trusting of others and easier to trick, bribe, or coerce. Many people with cognitive and other disabilities (i.e., speech impairment) may be unable to articulate verbally when sexual or other types of abuse have occurred. Persons who are deaf may have difficulty reporting due to barriers with communication, including lack of interpreter and/or other assistive devices, such as telecommunication device for the deaf (TDD).

Information taken from the "Sexual Assault Advocate Training Manual" developed by the Oregon State Attorney General's Sexual Assault Task Force.

If you, or someone you know, has experienced interpersonal violence please check out our Survivor Help section for information on options and support.