Domestic and Sexual Violence Against Women with Disabilities and Deaf Women: Needs and Remedies Presenter: Lisa Fleming lisa@rosebrooks.org Presentation Topics • Definition of domestic and sexual violence • Types of abuse • Power and control tactics • Challenges and safety risks experienced by survivors • Strategies for effectively serving survivors with disabilities and Deaf women What We Know About Domestic and Sexual Violence Against Women with Disabilities and Deaf Women Incidence & Prevalence Unique Dynamics of Violence Assistance and Support Incidence and Prevalence * Limited research exists * Research has documented that some women with disabilities experience increased risk of violence compared to women without disabilities. * We can not generalize findings to all women with disabilities. Incidence and Prevalence cont’d * In one study, women with and without disabilities experience equally high rates of physical, sexual and emotional abuse. * A few important differences for women with disabilities existed though. * They reported a larger number of perpetrators * The duration of their abuse was longer than women without disabilities. Source: Center for Research on Women with Disabilities, Baylor Incidence and Prevalence cont’d • Women with developmental disabilities are four to ten times more likely than women without disabilities to be sexually assaulted and they are at greater risk for repeat victimization. • 76% of adults with cognitive disabilities have been sexually assaulted. Sources: • Sobsey, D. Violence and Abuse in the Lives of People with Disabilities: The End of Silent Acceptance? 1994. • National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Definitions Domestic violence is a pattern of assaultive and coercive behaviors to establish power and control over another person. Domestic violence occurs within intimate relationships. Abusers can be spouses, partners, boyfriends, girlfriends, family members or caregivers. Definitions Sexual assault is any form of nonconsensual sexual activity, encompassing all unwanted sexual acts from intimidation to touching to penetration. Sexual assault is a form of violence that uses sex to humiliate, intimidate, control or instill fear in another person, including any forced or unwanted sexual activity, rape, incest, and sexual abuse. Sexual assault can be committed by the use or threat of force or under circumstances where a person is incapable of consenting. Source: California Coalition Against Sexual Assault. Campus Violence Prevention Resource Guides. 2002. Physical Abuse • Attacks with weapons or kills her • Scratches, bites, grabs, or spits • Shakes, shoves, pushes, trips, restrains or throws things at her • Twists, slaps, punches, strangles, or burns • When she is sick, injured, or pregnant, refuses to help or prevents access to medical care Physical Abuse • Withholds food, medication or medical care • Breaking or hiding communication devices • Disrupts meals and sleep • Creates hazards in the home • Ignores claims of being uncomfortable or in pain Sexual Abuse • Physically forces sex • Pressures partner to have sex by manipulation or threats • Pressures or forces her into sexual acts that she is uncomfortable with • Jealously angry and assumes she will have sex with anyone • Insists that she dress in a more sexual manner than she wants Emotional and Psychological Abuse • Breaks promises, doesn’t follow through on agreements • Verbally attacks and humiliates her in public and private • Attacks her perceived vulnerabilities • Plays mind games • Threatens to have her institutionalized Emotional Psychological Abuse • Regularly threatens to leave or tells his partner to leave • Harasses her about affairs he imagines her to be having • Regularly tells her no one else would ever want her • Withholds approval or affection as punishment Economic Abuse • Controls all of the money, spends her money without permission • Doesn’t let her work outside of the home or sabotages her attempts to work or go to school • Limits access to financial information and resources • Ruins her credit rating Power and Control Tactics • Intimidation • Threats • Isolation • Minimizing, denying and blaming • Using male privilege Power and Control Tactics • Using the children • Damaging relationships • Attacking property and pets • Stalking • Spiritual and religious abuse Unique Dynamics of Violence * Women with disabilities and Deaf women experience unique dynamics of violence. * Some abusers us tactics that expressly target women with disabilities and Deaf women. Unique Dynamics * Becoming a relied-upon, or primary caregiver before assaulting her. * “Grooming” her for abuse. * Exploiting her trusting nature. * Taking advantage of her lack of sexual education or knowledge. Unique Dynamics * Stealing her adaptive equipment so she can’t call for or get help. * Attacking before she can sense what is coming. * Threatening, injuring or scaring away her service animal. * Giving her drugs without her knowledge, forcing her to take drugs or medication, or giving her more than was prescribed. Unique Dynamics * Preventing her from reporting any troubles through coercion, threats or force. * Exploiting her lack of access to accommodations. * Exploiting the fact that she will likely not be believed by a police officer or court even if she does report. Challenges and Safety Risks A woman experiencing violence faces many challenges and safety risks whether she decides to stay, leave or return to an abusive relationship. Often choosing to stay keeps the survivor and her children safe It is important to recognize leaving may be a long process in which she constantly considers her options, challenges and safety risks. Why doesn’t she leave? Above all, fear • 3 out of 4 females murdered by their intimate partners had been stalked by that offender at least once in the year prior to the murder (Femicide Study, 1999) • A woman’s risk of getting killed goes up 75% when she leaves the relationship or has left (Campbell, 2007) Safety Risks • Retaliation for seeking help • Fear of losing children or children may be harmed if he gets custody or visitation • Fear family or friends will be threatened or hurt Safety Risks • Previous threats that she will be killed if she leaves • Past violence has taught her that threats often result in violence • Children may harmed if he gets custody or visitation Dilemmas and Challenges • Economic dependence – “I can’t make it on my own” • Loss of standard of living, income, housing, personal property • Loss of support from family, friends, community • Religious and cultural beliefs Dilemmas and Challenges • Her job to “keep the family together” • Wants the relationship, not the abuse • Thinks it’s her fault and she can fix it • Lack of resources needed to get out • Ineffective, inappropriate response from community and institutions Dilemmas and Challenges • Lack of resources or accommodations for her disability • Limited access to services and support • Fear of institutionalization • Lack of options in the community for leaving How you can help Safety must be the guiding principle in any and all efforts to assist women who are escaping the violence and control of their intimate partner. There will be unintended consequences for the survivor of violence if interventions are not based on safety and her assessment of the situation. Empowering support is essential The woman who experiences violence is the expert in her life. • Respect her right to self determination • Be patient • Listen more, talk less • Think with her, instead of thinking for her • Respect and safeguard her confidentiality • Help her plan for future safety • Promote her access to community services Affirming and Supportive Messages • This is not your fault • You don’t deserve to be treated this way • I’m worried about your safety. Do you have a plan? • This can be a tough process emotionally. Do you have support? • I believe you Your role is vital Your efforts have the potential to save lives, to stop the violence, and to create new opportunities for families living in fear and danger. Domestic and sexual violence initiatives in any community requires collaboration. Domestic and Sexual Violence Services • Hotline • Shelter • Court advocacy • Medical Advocacy • Support groups • Professional therapy • Transitional housing • Children’s services Resources The Battered Women’s Justice Project www.bwjp.org National Domestic Violence Hotline www.ndvh.org or 1-800-799-SAFE National Network to End Domestic Violence www.nnedv.org National Sexual Violence Resource Center www.nsvrc.org RAINN www.rainn.org