Violence against women with disability

During my research I came across some disturbing information According to Public Health Agency of Canada "it is estimated that women with disabilities are 1.5 to 10 times as likely to be abused as non-disabled women depending on whether they live in the community or institutions" it is considered to be so high due to the fact that people have been abused suffer psychological trauma that results in low self esteem with the belief that they can't do better, or that can't get away. This is only compounded by the fact that women who are disabled have other issue when trying to get out of volatile situation due to the fact that she might be dependent on abuser affection, communication, financial support, physical and medical support as well as the fear of not being financially independent and becoming homeless as a result of leaving their abuser. Some of the other facts that the Public Health Agency of Canada has presented on the issue of violence against women with disabilities are" The degree of risk of sexual abuse of persons with disabilities 'appears to be at least 150 per cent of that for individuals of the same sex and similar age without disabilities'".

"it is estimated that only 20 per cent of the cases of sexual abuse involving disabled people are ever reported to the police, community service agencies, or other authorities."
"Two hundred and 45 women with disabilities responded to DAWN Canada's 1988 questionnaire " its results showed that
"40 per cent had been raped, abused or assaulted"
"53 per cent of women who had been disabled from birth or early childhood had been abused; and 10 per cent of women who had abused sought help from transition houses; only half of these women were accommodated" Some of the forms of abuse that women with disabilities face are neglect, physical, psychological, sexual abuse as well as financial exploitation. So what can be done in order to stop the violence against women according to Public Health Agency of Canada says that we need to acknowledge that abuse is serious social issue provide protocols to follow in community living situation when abuse is discovered as well has provide training for women with disabilities in self defence, being assertive, sex education so that they can defend themselves against abuse. as well as, providing shelters for women who want to get out of an abusive relationship.