¶ Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation
Disabled people face high rates of:
- Domestic and intimate partner violence
- Caregiver abuse and neglect
- Financial exploitation
- Institutional and state violence
This page offers signs to watch for and possible responses, knowing that options vary by country, immigration status, and available supports.
- Family homes
- Group homes, institutions, nursing facilities
- Schools, residential programs, and “therapeutic” settings
- Workplaces and sheltered workshops
- Hospitals and psychiatric units
- Guardianship and conservatorship arrangements
Abuse may be physical, emotional, sexual, financial, or medical (forced treatment, withholding meds or equipment).
Some possible signs:
- Someone controlling your money, benefits, documents, or phone
- Being threatened with loss of housing, care, or custody if you speak up
- Being punished for incontinence, communication differences, or meltdowns
- Being restrained, secluded, or medicated as punishment or convenience
- Staff or family refusing to follow access plans or medical orders
- “Care” that ignores your consent, boundaries, or pain
If you are unsure whether a situation counts as abuse, it may help to speak with a trusted friend, advocate, or hotline.
What is safest will depend on your context. Options may include:
- Talking with someone you trust outside the situation
- Contacting a disability-informed domestic violence or sexual assault service
- Reaching out to an independent living center, advocacy organization, or ombudsperson
- Documenting incidents (dates, times, witnesses, photos if safe)
- Seeking legal advice about guardianship, tenancy, or benefits
For some people, involving police or state agencies increases danger. This page does not assume that calling authorities is always the best answer.
If you’re supporting another person:
- Believe them, even if the abuser is a respected professional or family member.
- Ask what they want, rather than making plans over their head.
- Help them map options: immediate safety, medium-term housing or income, long-term legal support.
- Be realistic about your own capacity and safety.
See also the Crisis, Housing, and Benefits sections for more concrete resources.