Sexual Violence and Individuals with Disabilities

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Individuals with disabilities experience sexual violence at alarming rates.  Victims of sexual violence who have intellectual/developmental disabilities are often overlooked because they may not be able to speak for themselves.  Many times, these individuals are completely physically and emotionally dependent on someone else and may have a difficult time communicating. Individuals with disabilities are not always taught how to set specific boundaries for themselves, and they are encouraged to be compliant with others.  Some victims are not capable of  giving consent to a sexual relationship.

More than 90 percent of people with developmental disabilities will experience sexual abuse at some point in their lives. Forty-nine percent will experience 10 or more abusive incidents (Valenti-Hein & Schwartz, 1995).

There are many different ways to help individuals with developmental disabilities that have disclosed sexual violence.
·         Let the survivor know you believe them.
·         Treat the survivor like a person, not their disability.
·         Go slowly and take your cues from the survivor.
·         Support the survivor in their choices and decision-making. (California Coalition Against Sexual Assault, 2010).

Remember, each survivor is different and may need something different from a friend, family member, caretaker, or advocate.

Written by: Alesha L., Shelter Counselor/Advocate

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