You are here: home>understanding violence>domestic violence>dynamics >

Barriers to Safety

There are a number of real barriers that exist for women with disabilities who are attempting to access safety and other services. First and foremost, leaving an abuser can be the most dangerous time for a woman. Women are more likely to be murdered by their abuser when attempting to report abuse or leave the abusive relationship. Almost 25 percent of women killed by their male partners were separated or divorced from the men who killed them, and another 25 percent were attempting to end the relationship when they were killed.

In General

Factors that affect a woman’s decision to stay in, return to, or leave an abusive relationship may have to do with:

• economic dependence,
• the fear of physical harm or retaliation,
• negative reactions from family or friends,
• a lack of resources or accommodations for her disability,
• insecurity about being alone,
• shame and humiliation,
• guilt,
• exhaustion, and
• religious or cultural beliefs.

For Women with Disabilities

Women with disabilities and Deaf women who have experienced violence also face additional challenges to finding safety and support. A lack of accessible services for women with disabilities and Deaf women is one of many barriers that a woman might face when trying to leave. Other barriers that women with disabilities and Deaf women can face when leaving an abusive relationship include:

• limited access to services and support
• lack of options for leaving in community
• fear of institutionalization
• lack of economic resources due to inability to work
• isolation from family and friends
• fear for safety, care, and custody of children because of societal perceptions of the abilities of women with disabilities
• abuser is primary caregiver
• severity of abuse is minimized because of "caregiver stress"
• self-blame, believing abuse is deserved because of certain disabilities or limitations

Finally, it is important to note that leaving an abusive relationship is a process. For many women, part of that process involves leaving and going back, sometimes multiple times, before finally leaving the relationship.

Safety planning is a critical resource to help victims/survivors increase their safety regardless of their decision of whether to stay or leave. Creating a safety plan provides victims/survivors with suggestions for increasing safety while in or when preparing to leave, an abusive relationship.

print this page email this page

back to previous page

• community profiles
• resources
• news & events