¶ Abuse, Safety, and Consent
Disabled people experience abuse at significantly higher rates than non-disabled people. This isn't because of disability itself—it's because systems and people exploit disabled people's vulnerabilities. You deserve safety, autonomy, and support.
This page centers disabled survivors' expertise and addresses abuse in all its forms.
Call emergency services (911 in US, 999 in UK, 000 in Australia, or your local emergency number)
National Hotlines:
- US: National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 (TTY: 1-800-787-3224)
- US: Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN): 1-800-656-4673
- UK: National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247
- Canada: Find provincial resources at endingviolencecanada.org
- Australia: 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732
Disability-Specific Resources:
- US: Disability Rights organizations in your state can help
- Abused Deaf Women's Advocacy Services: 1-800-787-3224 (TTY)
¶ Understanding Abuse Against Disabled People
Disabled people experience 2-10x higher rates of abuse (depending on the type and population studied). Contributing factors:
- Dependence on others: Relying on caregivers creates vulnerability
- Isolation: Less access to community and support networks
- Communication barriers: May be harder to report or be believed
- Institutional settings: Abuse is endemic in institutions
- Power imbalances: Caregivers, providers, family have power over disabled people
- Not being believed: Disabled people's reports are often dismissed
- Limited options: Fear of losing care, housing, or support if you report
Physical abuse: Hitting, restraining, rough handling, over- or under-medicating, withholding food or medical care.
Sexual abuse: Any unwanted sexual contact. Disabled people can and do experience sexual violence.
Emotional/psychological abuse: Manipulation, threats, humiliation, isolation, controlling behavior, gaslighting about disability.
Financial abuse: Stealing money, controlling finances, exploiting benefits, forcing financial dependence.
Neglect: Failing to provide necessary care, food, medication, hygiene, medical attention.
Disability-specific abuse:
- Withholding assistive devices or medications
- Refusing to provide assistance with daily needs
- Threatening institutionalization
- Damaging mobility equipment
- Isolating from disability community
- Mocking disability or using it to control
Disabled people experience intimate partner violence at higher rates. Abusive partners may:
- Use disability to control you
- Withhold medications or equipment
- Threaten to out your disability
- Manipulate you about being "unlovable"
- Control your care and access
Family abuse of disabled people includes:
- Parents or siblings who are abusive
- Family caregivers who neglect or exploit
- Financial exploitation by family
¶ Paid Caregivers and Staff
People paid to provide care sometimes abuse:
- Personal care attendants
- Group home staff
- Nursing home workers
- Home health aides
- Teachers, therapists, providers
Abuse is common in institutional settings:
- Nursing homes
- Group homes
- Psychiatric facilities
- Residential schools
- Day programs
- Service providers
- Strangers
- Acquaintances
- Scammers targeting disabled people
Consent is:
- Freely given: Not coerced or pressured
- Informed: Understanding what you're agreeing to
- Specific: Agreeing to one thing doesn't mean agreeing to everything
- Reversible: You can change your mind
- Enthusiastic: Real agreement, not just absence of "no"
¶ Consent and Disability
All disabled people have the right to make decisions about:
- Sexual activity
- Medical treatment
- Personal care
- Living situation
- Relationships
Some people may need support to make decisions. This should:
- Enhance autonomy, not replace it
- Respect the person's values and preferences
- Not substitute someone else's preferences
- Be the least restrictive option
Even people under guardianship retain rights. Guardians cannot consent to sexual activity on someone's behalf—the person must consent themselves.
- Fear of caregiver, partner, or family member
- Unexplained injuries or recurring injuries
- Anxiety, depression, withdrawal
- Changes in behavior
- Being isolated from friends, family, community
- Lacking money or control over finances
- Not having your basic needs met
- Being threatened or controlled
- Visible injuries or neglect
- Fear or anxiety around certain people
- Being controlled or not allowed to speak
- Lacking basic necessities
- Isolation from community
- Changes in behavior or mood
- Missing medications or assistive devices
- Someone else controlling their money
If you're being abused or fear abuse:
Document when safe: Keep records of incidents, injuries, threats. Store information where abuser can't find it.
Identify safe people: Who can you tell? Who can help in an emergency?
Plan for emergencies: Where can you go? How will you get there? What will you need (medications, equipment, documents)?
Know your options: Research shelters, hotlines, disability services before you need them.
Protect important items: Have copies of documents, extra medications, phone charger accessible.
Leaving an abusive situation is often complicated for disabled people:
- You may depend on the abuser for care
- Shelters may not be accessible
- You may fear losing housing or services
- You may not have financial independence
Resources that can help:
- Domestic violence services (ask about accessibility and disability experience)
- Disability rights organizations
- Centers for Independent Living
- Protection and Advocacy organizations
- Adult Protective Services (for some situations)
Who to report to depends on your situation:
- Police: For crimes (you can report without pressing charges)
- Adult Protective Services: For adults being abused, neglected, or exploited (mandatory reporters must report; anyone can report)
- Long-term Care Ombudsman: For nursing home and assisted living issues
- State licensing boards: For abuse by licensed facilities or providers
- Disability Rights organizations: For help navigating reporting and advocacy
Challenges with reporting:
- Not being believed
- Fear of retaliation
- Fear of losing care or placement
- Police not trained in disability
- Systems that don't support disabled victims
You're not required to report. Your safety and autonomy come first.
Abuse in nursing homes, group homes, psychiatric facilities, and other institutions is widespread. Types include:
- Physical abuse by staff or other residents
- Sexual abuse
- Overmedication and chemical restraint
- Physical restraints
- Neglect (not providing care, food, hygiene)
- Isolation and confinement
- Financial exploitation
- Denial of rights
- Long-term Care Ombudsman: Advocates for nursing home and assisted living residents
- State licensing agencies: Can investigate and sanction facilities
- Adult Protective Services: Investigates abuse allegations
- Protection and Advocacy organizations: Legal advocacy for disabled people
Even in care settings, you have rights:
- To be free from abuse, neglect, and exploitation
- To privacy and dignity
- To make decisions about your care
- To communicate with people outside the facility
- To access your records
- To file complaints without retaliation
Not all difficult caregiving situations are abuse, but abuse happens when:
- A caregiver intentionally harms you
- A caregiver neglects your needs when they could meet them
- A caregiver exploits you financially
- A caregiver controls you beyond what care requires
If your caregiver is abusive, you may be able to:
- Request a different caregiver through your agency
- Switch agencies
- Use self-directed care to hire your own staff
- Access emergency care while transitioning
This is complicated because:
- You may love the person who hurts you
- Family may be your only support
- Reporting may have major consequences
- You may feel guilt or loyalty
You still deserve safety. Support is available even when family is involved.
Face:
- Highest rates of intimate partner violence
- Often not believed
- Domestic violence services may be inaccessible
- Reproductive coercion
Experience:
- Racism compounds ableism in reporting and services
- Less likely to be believed
- Distrust of police and systems may complicate reporting
- Cultural factors may affect help-seeking
May face:
- Abuse related to both identities
- Fewer affirming services
- Outing as a form of control
- Less family support
Experience very high rates of abuse:
- From parents, caregivers, staff
- In schools and facilities
- Often not believed or protected
Face:
- Very high rates of sexual abuse
- Often not believed
- May lack information about abuse
- May be controlled by abusers who appear caring
Experience:
- Abuse dismissed as "symptoms"
- Forced treatment as abuse
- Gaslighting about reality
- Barriers to being believed
Hotlines:
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 (TTY: 1-800-787-3224)
- RAINN (Sexual Assault): 1-800-656-4673
- National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453
Disability-Specific:
- National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247
- Respond: For people with learning disabilities who've experienced abuse
- Stay Safe East: For disabled survivors of domestic abuse
- 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732
- State and territory services
You are not to blame. Abuse is never your fault.
Getting support:
- Counseling and therapy (look for trauma-informed, disability-aware)
- Peer support from other survivors
- Disability rights organizations
- Medical care if needed
Healing is possible. Many survivors go on to live safe, fulfilling lives.
Are you a disabled survivor? Do you work in abuse prevention or response? Have resources to share?
Share your knowledge: Contribution Form
We especially welcome:
- Survivor-informed perspectives
- Resources for specific populations
- Country-specific information
- Strategies that helped
This page centers disabled survivors' expertise. You deserve safety, autonomy, and support.
Last updated: November 2025