The HIDDEN VICTIMS of ABUSE
Disabled people are twice as likely to be hit, stalked or assaulted by their partners
PEOPLE with a long-standing illness or disability are more than twice as likely to be abused by a partner than those in good health.
Some 31 per cent of disabled people have experienced domestic abuse at the hands of a partner, according to the Office for National Statistics.
That’s more than double the 15 per cent of non-disabled people who have been victims of any form of domestic abuse. Experts say the findings show that disabled people are “the hidden victims of abuse”. In terms of specific types of abuse, more than a fifth (21 per cent) of disabled people have experienced non-physical abuse compared with 13 per cent of those without disabilities. Some 12 per cent of people with disabilities say they have been stalked by a partner, compared to five per cent of able-bodied people. And while two per cent of non-disabled people said they had suffered sexual assault from a partner, the figure is four times higher for disabled people.
According to domestic abuse charity SafeLives, disabled victims typically endure abuse for an average of 3.3 years before accessing support, compared to 2.3 years for non-disabled victims.
The charity’s 2017 report found: “It is possible that victims who lack mental capacity to make certain decisions may still be denied protection from the criminal justice system, which means that, ultimately, they are less likely to become safe.”
Suzanne Jacob, chief executive of SafeLives, said: “Too often, disabled people are hidden victims of domestic abuse.
“We know that disabled women – whose disability might or might not be visible - are more than twice as likely to experience domestic abuse than women without disabilities.
“In many cases the disability and impairment interlink, with disabled women being less able to access support and therefore the abuse lasting a longer time when compared to women without disabilities.
“Professionals need a greater understanding of the complex dynamics of disability and abuse, including hidden impairments. In many cases abuse is perpetrated by intimate partners and family members – the very people disabled people are often dependent on for care or support. “This presents an additional barrier, leaving many feeling isolated with no place to turn. “For anyone who is currently experiencing abuse, please know you are not alone, it is never your fault, and there is help available. No one should suffer in silence. Talk to someone you trust in the community, if you have a support worker tell them what you’re experiencing, and if you are ever in danger, please ring the police.”