Disability-Based Abuse
Disability-based abuse occurs when individuals with disabilities are physically, sexually, financially and/or psychologically abused. This type of abuse is also considered to be a hate crime as it’s not only motivated by power and control but also by ableism (discrimination against disabled people). Disabled individuals often face additional barriers to reporting abuse, such as dependence on their abuser. Disability-based abuse is not limited to those who are visibly disabled; people with invisible disabilities (such as chronic pain conditions, mental health issues or developmental disabilities) are also at risk of experiencing this type of abuse.
Signs of Disability-Based Abuse
Common signs of disability-based abuse include unexplained injuries, medical equipment or mobility aids frequently being broken or missing and neglect. Neglect primarily covers insufficient hygiene, inadequate safeguarding, and failure to ensure a person has attended their appointments or taken their medication. Another sign of this type of abuse is new or worsening caretaker stress; caretakers themselves often have a small or non-existent support network, and it’s important that they have the appropriate support in place for themselves so that they are able to be more than just a caretaker and have a meaningful life of their own.
Who Can Experience Disability-Based Abuse?
​Anybody who has a disability, regardless of what disability they have, is at risk of experiencing this type of abuse. Disabled people with higher support needs are at a greater risk of experiencing this type of abuse. Additionally, most disabled people are fairly isolated, and either have a very small support network or none at all, making them more vulnerable to this type of abuse as they may be dependent upon their partner for caretaking and day-to-day activities.
Breaking Free from Disability-Based Abuse
If you or someone you know is experiencing disability-based abuse, support is available. Advocacy groups, legal protections, and accessible services exist to help people regain independence and safety. Contact your local police, 101 or 999, depending on the severity. If you need mental health support, contact your GP to arrange counselling. The Available Services page has a list of contact support services.
What Can Disability-Based Abuse Look Like?
Preventing Access To Medication
This is used to gain power and control over the victim, often through gaslighting or refusal to give the victim their medication. This will result in the victim's mental state being altered and they’re likely to become more dependent on their abuser. This may be short-term or long-term, depending on the abuser’s intentions.
Any Sexual
Violence
Sexual violence, in all its forms, is considered a form of disability-based abuse if the act is committed against a disabled person as they are often either unable to consent or fully understand the situation. Please see the Sexual Abuse page for more information.
Changing Medication Doses Without Consent
Similar to when an abuser prevents access to medication, this is done to gain power or control over the victim as it can cause an altered mental state, potentially making them more reliant on their partner and making it more difficult to leave. Changing a person's medication can also be dangerous as there’s a risk of accidental overdose.
Exchanging Sex For Caregiving
Often done through coercion, threats or bribery, this is a form of sexual abuse. In this type of situation, consent has not been given freely. Please see our Sexual Abuse page for more details.
Withholding/destroying medical equipment
This enables the abuser to physically isolate the victim and ensures that they are dependent upon the abuser. It also strips a person of their independence and dehumanises them as they may not be able to do basic household tasks anymore, either at all or without their abusers help.
Forced
Marriage
This may be achieved through coercion but may also happen in situations where a person is unable to consent. This can have many detrimental effects on the victims, including putting them at higher risk for other types of abuse.