Disabled women represent 16% of all women across Canada (Health & Activity Limitation Survey, 1991). Women with disabilities include women of all age groups, income levels, cultures, and sexual orientations...some women with disabilities choose to be mothers while others may decide not to have children.
Disabilities may include:
- Non-visible disabilities like diabetes, epilepsy
- Deaf, deafened, or hard-of-hearing
- Developmental
- Environmental
| - Visual
- Psychiatric survivors
- Learning
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Violence against disabled women most often occurs within their own homes. Abusers may include parents and/or partners, caregivers, teacher, attendants, older brothers, and so on. Disabled women are vulnerable to abuse for they may be unable to leave the situation on their own or communicate the occurrence of abuse. The lack of credibility often stands as a major barrier, for women with psychiatric and developmental disabilities, as well as women who communicate through alternative means, may not be believed. Well-meaning professionals and members of the community may hold the attitude that women with disabilities should stay in abusive relationships, suggesting they should not expect anything better. "Most women in violent relationships believe that what's happening in the relationship isn't happening because the abuser is out of control. It's happening because they aren't perfect enough and that they caused the abuse. There is a further sense of isolation because the women often tells herself that the violence is only occurring because she's a disabled woman." (Judy Ryan, DAWN Canada).
For women with disabilities, fewer options are available when fleeing an abusive situation. Many of the circumstances experienced by abused women in general are accentuated for women challenged by a disability:
- financial dependence
- severe physical reactions following an assault
- many women's shelters are not accessible
- potential hospitalization or institutionalization
- further isolation from support networks
| - dependency on others for care
- transportation is not accessible
- physically unable to flee
- risk of losing custody of their children
- further loss of self-confidence
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While women with disabilities are more vulnerable to abuse, appropriate supports and resources can facilitate freedom from abusive situations. Assertiveness and self-defense courses have proven helpful for women with disabilities. Respectful attitudes and accessible services encourage abused women with disabilities to seek assistance. If you are abused, please tell someone you trust and can speak with privately. If a health-care professional is abusing you, consider reporting it to the person's employer and governing professional college.
| Additional Resource: | Advocacy Resource Center for the Handicapped
40 Orchard View Blvd., Suite 255
Toronto, ON M4R 1B9 |
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