Violence/ Nonviolence
and Disability
Jaclyn Anderson
Jason Maseberg-Tomlinson
Disability Support Services, 202 Holton Hall
Kansas State University
Tonight’s presentation
Kansas Violence
 Disability & Violence
 Women with disabilities
 Reporting
 Creating a safe environment
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Kansas ’05 Statistics on
Personal Protection Orders
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There were 8,222 Protection from Abuse
Orders filed.
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There were 3,405 Protection from
Stalking Orders filed.
Source: Kansas Governor's Domestic Violence Fatality Review
Board http://www.governor.ks.gov/grants/gdvfrb.htm
Kansas ‘05 Rape Statistics

There were 1,099 rapes reported to law
enforcement.
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The offender knew the victim in
approximately 74% of the reported cases.
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Nearly 98% victims of rape were female.
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78% of reported rapes - occurred in homes.
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"Personal" weapons such as hands, feet,
and fists were used in 63% of the rapes
reported.
Kansas ‘05
Domestic Violence Statistics
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14 women and 7 men were killed in domestic
violence murders.
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There were 19,222 domestic violence incidents
and 21,777 domestic violence offenses
reported by law enforcement.
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The majority of domestic violence incidents 83% of reported cases - occurred in homes.
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Seventy percent of victims were female.
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"Personal" weapons such as hands, feet, and
fists were used in 68% of domestic violence
incidents reported.
Statistics about Disability

As of 2002, people with disabilities
made up 20% (and growing) of the
population1.
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Aging population/Baby Boom Disability affects us all at a growing
rate.
Facts about Violence and
People with Disabilities

The National Rehabilitation
Information Center (NARIC) has
estimated that a large percentage-perhaps as many as 50 percent--of
patients who are long-term residents
of hospitals and specialized
rehabilitation centers are there due to
crime-related injuries.
Facts about Violence and
People with Disabilities1
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4-10 times higher risk of becoming crime victims than
a person without disability
Children with any kind of disability are more than twice
as likely to be physically abused and twice as likely to
be sexually abused
68% to 83% of women with developmental disabilities
will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime – 50% higher
than the rest of the population.
People with developmental disabilities are more likely
to be re-victimized by the same person and more than
half never seek assistance from legal or treatment
services.
What is abuse?
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Withholding medication and/or assistive devices
Taking your money
Isolating you from communicating with others
Forcing sexual acts upon you
Failing to provide proper care as a form of punishment
or coercion
Hurting your pets
Destroying your property on purpose
Using your disability against you
Who are the Perpetrators?

Perpetrators of Sexual Abuse are often:
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15-25% Natural Family Members
15% Acquaintances and Neighbors
30% Disability Service Providers
(Caretakers)
0-5% Strangers
Violence and Abuse in the Lives of People with Disabilities, Gregor
Wolbring (1994)
Who is at Greatest Risk for
Violence?

Individual has diminished ability to comprehend,
reason, or communicate. Increases risk because
many perpetrators seek individuals who are unable to
understand and communicate criminal actions and
whose credibility will be questioned because of the
disability.
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Traumatic brain injury
Developmental disabilities
Dementia
Autism
Developmental Disabilities

Persons with developmental disabilities have a
high risk of being sexually abused. One
researcher estimates that 90% of people with
developmental disabilities will be sexually
abused in their lifetime, yet only 3% of the
assaults will ever be reported.
(Sobsey & Doe, 1991; Tyiska, 1998)

Among developmentally disabled adults, as
many as 83% of females are sexual assaulted.
(Stimson, L. and Best, M.C. 1991)
Who is at Greatest Risk for
Violence (2)

Similar to those with cognitive disorders,
individuals with psychological problems are
readily abused because the perpetrator can
raise questions about credibility of the
accuser.
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Schizophrenia
Bi-polar disorder
Clinical depression
Mental Illness
Experiences of abuse and violence are
especially high for women diagnosed with
serious mental illness (SMI).
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Out of 39 adult female clients in an intensive
psychiatric case management program, 59%
had been sexually abused and 62% had
been physically abused as children and/or
adults (Rose, Peabody, & Stratigeas, 1991).
Mental Illness (2)

In a study of 69 inpatients (male and female)
who had ongoing relationships with partners or
family members, 63% reported a history of
physical abuse by a partner and 46% reported
physical abuse by a family member (Cascardi et
al., 1996). Twenty-nine percent had experienced
domestic abuse within the past year.
Mental Illness: Stereotypes
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American Psychiatric Association:
People With Severe Mental Illness Are
More Likely To Be Victims Than
Perpetrators of Violence.
Who is at Greatest Risk? (3)
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Although some of these conditions may involve
compromised speech and language abilities, the key
problem is the ability of the individual to physically
escape from a location where violence may be or is
occurring and is able to fight back against a perpetrator.
Disabilities in this category usually result in loss of
strength of the large muscle groups and reduce the
individual’s chance of defending themselves against
physical assault.
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Cerebral palsy
Muscular dystrophy
Multiple sclerosis
Spinal cord injury
Spina bifida
Who is at Greatest Risk? (4)
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Individuals who are blind and those who are deaf-blind
will have a reduced sense of danger as well as an
inability to escape from a dangerous encounter. Those
who are deaf will have the diminished ability to sense
danger but are usually physically capable of defending
themselves against physical assault or escaping a
dangerous situation.
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Blindness
Deafness
Deaf-blind
Women with Disabilities

Women with disabilities, regardless of
age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or
class, are assaulted, raped, and abused
at a rate of two times greater than
women without disabilities.
(Sobsey, 1988, 1994; Cusitar, 1994; Stimpson & Best, 1991)
Women with Disabilities (2)
Additional barriers that can make the violence
even more difficult for her:

She may lose her primary caretaker (because
this person may be her abuser or the person
that assaulted her);
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She may be at a greater risk of losing custody
of her children (because women with
disabilities may be viewed as having
inadequate parenting skills);
Women with Disabilities (3)
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She may have her credibility questioned, which may
result in denial of services (because women with
disabilities are not always believed);
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She may lose her right to make personal decisions
(because a woman with a disability may be viewed as
unable to make decisions apart from her abusive
partner, relative or caretaker);
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She may experience an increased risk of being
institutionalized (because the primary caretaker may
be the abuser or the rapist and no other caretaker is
available);
Women with Disabilities (4)
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She may face a greater vulnerability to threats by the
abuser (because she may be more isolated due to
these barriers).
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As a result of these and other barriers, many disabled
women will not report abuse. The survivor may even
decide to stay with her abuser or rapist rather than
face the risks of leaving or reporting.
Source:
Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence, Winter 2004 Newsletter
Issues with reporting

Under reporting of criminal activity among the
population, as with the general population of the U.S.
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Lack of responsiveness from law enforcement and
prosecutors who question victim credibility2
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Persons with developmental disabilities have a high
risk of being sexually abused. One researcher
estimates that 90% of people with developmental
disabilities will be sexually abused in their lifetime, yet
only 3% of the assaults will ever be reported.
(Sobsey & Doe, 1991; Tyiska, 1998)
Speaking of Credibility
Creating a
Safe Environment

There are many factors which may
increase the chances of ‘victimization’
Nonviolent Actions
Support disability rights/awareness
 Volunteer at support/crisis hotlines
 Report suspected abuse
 Use “person first language”
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Resources - Handouts
Creating a Safety Plan
 State of Kansas/SRS Adult Protective
Services Fact Sheet
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Resources for victims
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Disability Rights Center of Kansas:
http://drckansas.org
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Adult Protective Services (SRS):
http://www.srskansas.org/ISD/ees/adult.htm
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Kansas Disability/Violence Awareness Project:
http://www.kdheks.gov/dva/project_summary.html
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The Crisis Center Hotline:
800-727-2785 or 539-2785
Resources for more info…
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1 Report
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2 Marge,
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3 Domestic
of the National Council on Disability, July 26,
1996, pages 13-14. as posted on the Kansas Department
of Health and Environment (n.d.), Kansas Disability /
Violence Awareness Project. Retrieved February 14,
2008, from http://www.kdheks.gov/dva/statistics.html
D.K. (Ed.). (2003) A Call to Action: Ending
Crimes of Violence Against Children and Adults with
Disabilities. A Report to the Nation.
Violence, Mental Health & Trauma, Research
Highlights PDF. National Center on Domestic Violence,
Trauma & Mental Health.
THANK YOU!

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions:
Disability Support Services, 202 Holton Hall, Kansas
State University
phone number: 785-532-6441
web url: www.k-state.edu/dss
Jaclyn Anderson, Assistant Director
jaclyna@ksu.edu
Jason Maseberg-Tomlinson, Adaptive Technology
Specialist
jasontom@ksu.edu