People with disabilities are at far greater risk for abuse than people without disabilities.
The resources below are a collection of research papers, articles and curriculum.
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This information packet discusses definitions related to individuals with disabilities, myths and facts around disabilities, and different models for viewing disabilities. The packet covers people’s rights, statistics, sexual assault, abuse, neglect, and barriers to accessing sexual assault services. The packet concludes with information about leaving a partner and legislative rights.
This guide is written for women with disabilities who are experiencing abuse. A definition of abuse and a "warning signs" of abuse quiz are included. This guide features stories and advice from other women. Steps to protect oneself from abuse are included.
Chapter fourteen covers abuse, violence, and self-defense for women with disabilities. The chapter discusses different kinds of abuse, preventing abuse, support for women leaving violent partners, sexual violence, abuse in institutions, and what to do to be safer. It utilizes different cultures throughout the world to express that abuse can happen to anyone from anywhere.
This article examines relationship abuse and whether a relationship is unsafe or not. It also examines what happens if children are involved. The article covers whether or not to end a relationship, where to receive help, and how to leave an unsafe relationship.
This article examines what a healthy relationship looks like. It includes what is involved in making a healthy relationship, and how do you know if you are in a healthy relationship. Furthermore, it includes ways to develop healthy relationships, and how can you improve your relationships. It concludes with information about what to do if you are not in a healthy relationship.
This article examines responsibilities in a relationship. These responsibilities include being listened to, honesty, disagreeing, support, forgiveness, and respect.
The guide asks questions for an individual to recognize the signs of abuse by a family member or caregiver. Also, reasons why people may be abused are included along with ways to stop the abuse.
A guide designed for self-advocates that lays out basic principles of abuse such as emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, physical abuse, and discrimination. The guide also states who may abuse, and who to tell if the person or someone he or she knows is being abused.
This resource is developed for individuals with a developmental disability who may have experienced sexual assault. The resource examines self-protection, risks, safety techniques, and how to be critical of a living environment.
A guide for anyone in an abusive relationship. This guide includes a checklist of common characteristics of abusive relationships, and tips for avoiding potentially harmful relationships. Also, the guide examines common myths about relationships, dating violence, what power and control is, and warning signs of abusive relationships. The guide examines the cycle of violence, effects of dating violence, what to do if you are in a bad relationship, safety planning, and how to get an order for protection.
This article explores the relationship between violence and women with disabilities. It explores how isolation of women with disabilities, economic resources, and exclusion to services continues the cycle of violence. The article also explores how this cycle leads to system-based violence.
Newsletter published by the University of Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration featuring violence against women with disabilities. Articles include a woman’s account of the violence she experienced from her partner, statistics about the different types of violence including intimate partner and caregiver violence, policy implications, and the Violence Against Women Act 2000. Additional articles include combating discrimination, recognizing and responding to violence, service accessibility, advocating for women in the judicial system, recognizing caregiver abuse, promoting healthy relationships, deaf women advocacy, educating law enforcement, and victim services.
This site gives concrete ideas of what to do if you are be bullied. It also gives an idea of what to do if someone else is being bullied.
This brochure discusses how to identify bullies in the workplace, what the signs of being bullied are, and what can cause this behavior. Also, the brochure includes what to do if you are bullied and where to receive help.
This guide includes advice for individuals who are being bullied. The site includes what actions you can take if you are bullied, how to ask for help, and tips for getting help. Also, it includes information about bullies and how to be confident around bullies.
This site includes knowledge about bullies in bullet points. This includes general information about bullies themselves and what to do if you are bullied.
This site addresses different issues of bullying. In this sheet the information includes what is bullying and how to deal with bullies.
Power and Control Wheels are a tool for understanding relationships and abuse. Areas of abuse are explained. Also, information about healthy relationships and respect are included.
This question and answer guide gives an overview of sexual violence perpetrated against individuals with intellectual disabilities. The article examines risk factors, definitions, perpetrators, statistics, effects, and treatment.
This article explores raising daughters with disabilities. It explores issues of independence, role models, and work in relation to parenting daughters. It also gives parent’s concrete idea of parenting their daughters in regards to sexuality.
This information sheet lists indicators of abuse. It provides indicators for physical assault, neglect, financial exploitation, sexual assault, and psychological abuse.
This resource is developed for family, friends, and housing of children with developmental disabilities who may have experienced violence. The resource examines types of abuse (including definitions), risk factors, and indicators of abuse. Also, information about how to report child abuse, safety techniques, and how to help your child is included.
This guide is developed for family, friends, and housing of people with disabilities who have experienced sexual violence. The resource examines how to deal with the situation immediately, what type of evidence to collect, and how to report. The guide includes how to communicate with a victim. Also, this article includes information about child sexual abuse, male sexual abuse, and acquaintance rape. The article explores effects on the victim and family members. Finally, the guide concludes with risk-reduction recommendations and definitions.
This resource is developed for family, friends, and housing of people with developmental disabilities who may have experience sexual assault. The resource examines types of sexual assault, broad statistics, and indicators. Prevention techniques, grooming techniques, and how to respond is also covered.
A guide for parents to identify if their child is being bullied. It also gives examples of unacceptable peer behavior, and compares it to spousal abuse.
This comprehensive article addresses bullying in relation to children with disabilities. The article covers the definition of bullying, teasing, and disability harassment. Also, the article includes statistics about the problem, how to address the problem, and how to create caring communities. The article concludes with prevention techniques and creating anti-bullying programs in schools.
This site examines common myths about bullying. It examines myths such as girls do not bully, bullying makes kids tougher, and bullying is a normal part of childhood.
This newsletter article argues that abuse by a caregiver should be included in the definition of domestic violence. It examines the power dynamic between women and their housing in regards to abuse. Also, a power and control model unique for women with disabilities is included. Different types of abuse are explained in detail. The article ends with suggestions for healthcare providers to screen and deal with women who have experienced abuse.
Information for physicians who are dealing with women who have a disability and are facing violence. Explores why the patient may not tell the physician about the abuse and reasons why the physician may not ask about the abuse. It also explores possible signs of abuse from the medical record and physical examination. The information gives a guideline that physician may use for dealing with an abused patient.
This research article explores police officers and their perceptions and attitudes around disabilities. The article shows how many police officials mistake disability for mental illness. They tend to have a negative perception towards disability, because of their negative perception of mental illness. The article also examines how these perceptions shapes the police officer’s attitude towards people with disabilities.
This bulletin is designed for people in the criminal justice system and service providers. It examines how individuals with disabilities are treated when they are victims of crime. The article explores common myths, barriers, the background of disabilities and crime, unique issues, and recommendations.
This newsletter article describes the process of interviewing children with developmental disabilities who have experienced abuse. Information about how a forensic interview team should prepare is given in detail in the newsletter. Also, special considerations which may change the interview are also listed.
This newsletter examines a situation where a man was sexually abusing clients in a group home setting. The group home and parents’ reaction to the situation were explored. It also gives an overview of how to handle and respond to violence and abuse.
A review for service providers on how and when to share confidential information about women with a disability who experience violence. Reviews types of consent, HIPPA, and sharing information. Note: Addresses Wisconsin state laws.
This is a guide for Minnesotans around child abuse and neglect. This resource explores who is mandated reported, when to report, and where to report. It also examines what happens when a report is made, what types of questions will be asked, and what happens when abuse happens in a school/facility. Also, it explores relevant Minnesota statutes on child abuse and neglect.
This tool for domestic violence advocates strengthens their knowledge around safety planning and disabilities. It examines policies for the program, potential barriers victims face, and sample question to ask a victim. The questions are helpful to include in basic safety planning questionnaires.
This tool for domestic violence agencies allows them to examine their screening and intake process to include questions about accommodation needs of the victim. The document establishes how screening practices should take into account disabilities from the initial contact to providing services. A checklist of accessibility issues is provided for agencies to review their own services.
A resource for service providers to assess their understanding and accessibility of people with disabilities who experience violence. Focuses on whether or not the staff understands, how to access the facility, whether or not the building itself is accessible, whether or not the program addresses disability issues, whether or not the community is aware of the service’s accessibility, and reviewing existing policies.
Examines issues facing victims with disabilities, how abuse differs, specific factors that increase abuse, and who are the abusers. This article also examines the fear of disclosure, if a perpetrator has a disability, and domestic violence that results in a disability. It is also a guide for sexual violence service providers to ask about disabilities and learn about the different types of disabilities.
A guide for sexual violence advocates for working with clients who have a disability. The brochure examines how to better serve those clients, risks, and other types of abuse a person may experience.
A resource for domestic violence and sexual assault service providers to review their accessibility of services. This resource includes an assessment for agencies to address issues around accessibility and attitudes around disabilities. Also, the guide includes definitions/language issues, a spectrum of violence, types of communication and physical barriers, a resource guide, and current policies.
This information describes collaboration between advocacy organizations and violence programs on the issue of violence against women with disabilities and Deaf women. It focuses on alliance structure and strategies. Also, the information examines why it is important to collaborate across different sectors who work with women who experience violence.
A resource guide for domestic victim services and disability organizations on collaboration. Offers recommendations for collaboration as well as practical strategies for this process.
This is a resource for anyone who provides service, advocacy, or support to women with disabilities who have experienced violence. This workbook explores the definition of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and disabilities. It also examines the individual’s understanding of the victim’s disability and screening for violence.
Minnesota rights for victims who experience crime. The text includes the rights and resources available to crime victims. Also, current Minnesota statues and rules and the Crime Victim’s Bill of Rights that are relevant crime victims are included.
This research study analyzes sexual assault prevention programs and women with intellectual disabilities. The authors examined sexual assault prevention programs, and the impact of them on women with intellectual disabilities. They found that four sexual assault prevention programs were specifically designed for women with disabilities. The authors examined these programs, and concluded with recommendations for future sexual assault prevention programs.
This article analyzes sexual abuse perpetrated against women with disabilities. The article gives an overview of sexual abuse, and issues facing the research on this topic. It examines prevention strategies. It concludes with current efforts to battle sexual assault against women with disabilities.
This article analyzes intimate and caregiver violence against women with disabilities. The article begins with current federal statues relating to domestic violence and women with disabilities. The article provides a definition and scope of the problem. Furthermore, the article examines the intersection of domestic violence and disability. The criminal justice system’s response is explained along with abuse tactics. The author explains specific issues relating to women with disabilities and domestic violence.
This is a good overview of violence and abuse against people with disabilities. Also, it discusses using person first language and the social model of disability. Part two describes how to recognize abuse and perpetrators. It discusses common barriers for individuals who experience abuse including economic barriers, communication barriers, and system barriers. The article ends with the spectrum of prevention, and what can be done as an advocate.
This survey includes national statistics about violent crimes against persons with disabilities. It highlights statistics on crimes such as sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault. This article also includes statistics about victim/offender relationship and demographics.
This article analyzes recent research regarding women with disabilities and interpersonal violence. The article includes statistics of how frequently women experience violence and information about how they experience the violence. It has been found that women with disabilities are more likely to experience violence, experience multiple forms of violence, and have longer duration of the violence. It addresses prevention programs and their effectiveness, consequences of violence, and violence of women from diverse backgrounds. It concludes with policy suggestions, service suggestions, and information about violence against men with disabilities.
Statistics of individuals with disabilities and the rate in which they experience violence. Explores different situations including sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault. Addresses factors including gender, age, types of disabilities, drugs/alcohol. Includes perceptions of attack, resistance to attack, injury, whether or not the offender was armed, reporting to police, police response, and use of victim assistance programs.
This research study analyzes recent policies around sexual assault from a disability paradigm. Recent policies increase penalties for crimes committed against individuals with cognitive disabilities. However, the authors believe that these policies stem from a history of oppression of individuals with disabilities. The authors also examine how many policies deny individuals with disabilities of their civil rights.
This fact sheet reports statistics around sexual assault and people with disabilities. The fact sheet also includes definitions of sexual assault and violence.
This program is designed to teach children and youth with disabilities about healthy relationships, sexuality, safety, and abuse prevention. Components include curriculum designed for children, teenagers, professionals, and parents. It is suggested that the program be completed in a classroom environment. The intended audience for this document is staff at sexual violence agencies who want to start or expand a school-based violence prevention program for youth with disabilities.
This learning tool is aimed at teaching self-advocates. The mission is to teach individuals with disabilities to recognize, report, and respond to abuse and mistreatment. Ideas include a card game to recognize non-abuse, questionable, and abusive behavior.
This program is designed to teach adult and housing about personal safety and abuse prevention. Components include curriculum, PowerPoint, journals, and visuals. Module one is about keeping personal items safe. Module two explores neglect, and module three explores physical and verbal abuse. Module four provides information about sexual abuse. The last module is designed for housing.