{"id":3320,"date":"2025-08-05T14:27:54","date_gmt":"2025-08-05T14:27:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sntnetwork.org.uk\/DV\/?page_id=3320"},"modified":"2026-10-12T12:46:14","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T12:46:14","slug":"disability-and-domestic-abuse","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sntnetwork.org.uk\/DV\/disability-and-domestic-abuse\/","title":{"rendered":"Disability And Domestic Abuse"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Disability and Domestic Abuse<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Everyone deserves to feel safe, respected, and supported\u2014regardless of ability.<\/p>

Disabled people are more likely to experience domestic abuse than non-disabled people\u2014and often face greater barriers to getting help. Abuse may come from a partner, family member, carer, or support worker, and can take many forms: physical, emotional, sexual, financial, or coercive control.<\/p>

At Rosa Women\u2019s Lives Matter, we are committed to providing inclusive, accessible support for all survivors. You are not alone\u2014and support is here for you.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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What Abuse Can Look Like for Disabled People<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In addition to more widely recognised forms of abuse, disabled women may experience abuse that directly exploits their disability or health condition. This can include:<\/p>

  • Withholding, hiding, or destroying mobility aids or medical equipment (e.g. wheelchairs, hearing aids)<\/li>
  • Preventing access to medication, overmedicating, or changing medication without consent<\/li>
  • Refusing help with essential care needs such as dressing, eating, or using the toilet<\/li>
  • Blocking or sabotaging access to medical appointments, therapy, or benefit assessments<\/li>
  • Stealing disability-related income (such as PIP or carer\u2019s allowance)<\/li>
  • Sexual abuse disguised as \u201ccare\u201d (e.g. touching during bathing or dressing, demanding sex in exchange for care)<\/li>
  • Verbal abuse targeting your disability (e.g. calling you \u201cuseless\u201d or \u201cstupid\u201d)<\/li>
  • Threats to institutionalise you or call social services<\/li>
  • Using communication or sensory impairments against you (e.g. refusing to interpret sign language)<\/li>
  • Isolating you from support workers, friends, or community groups<\/li><\/ul>

    \u201cHe told me if I reported him, I\u2019d be institutionalised and lose my PIP. I believed him\u2014until I got support and found out my rights.\u201d <\/em>\u2014 Maya, survivor with a visual impairment<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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    Barriers Disabled Survivors May Face<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Disabled survivors often experience unique challenges when trying to leave an abusive situation or access services, such as:<\/p>

    • Lack of physically accessible or sensory-friendly refuges and services<\/li>
    • \u00a0Limited or no access to BSL interpreters, Easy Read materials, or alternative communication formats<\/li>
    • \u00a0Fear of losing care, mobility support, or independence<\/li>
    • \u00a0Isolation from support networks and over-reliance on the abuser<\/li>
    • \u00a0Disbelief or dismissal by professionals, including infantilisation<\/li>
    • \u00a0Inaccessible housing or emergency accommodation<\/li>
    • \u00a0Fear of being seen as a \u201cburden\u201d or fear of being misunderstood<\/li><\/ul>

      No one should have to choose between safety and survival.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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      How We Support Disabled Survivors<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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      We provide tailored, trauma-informed, and accessible support to meet your individual needs. Our services include:<\/p>

      • Creating personalised safety plans that respect your access needs<\/li>
      • \u00a0Support with accessing emergency accommodation, housing advocacy, and safe transport<\/li>
      • \u00a0Legal advice, support applying for protection orders, and court accompaniment<\/li>
      • \u00a0Connecting you with disability rights advocates, benefit advisors, and care coordinators<\/li>
      • \u00a0Access to inclusive counselling and mental health services<\/li>
      • \u00a0Use of BSL interpreters, Easy Read materials, and communication aids as required<\/li><\/ul>

        We also work in partnership with disability and safeguarding organisations to ensure no one is left behind.<\/p>

        \u201cI thought I couldn\u2019t live without my carer. Now I know I never needed abuse disguised as care.\u201d<\/em>\u2014 Jane, wheelchair user and survivor<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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        If You\u2019re in Immediate Danger<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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        Call 999 if you are in danger or need urgent help. If you\u2019re deaf or hard of hearing, you can text 999 after registering with the emergency SMS service.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Disability and Domestic Abuse Everyone deserves to feel safe, respected, and supported\u2014regardless of ability. Disabled people are more likely to experience domestic abuse than non-disabled people\u2014and often face greater barriers to getting help. Abuse may come from a partner, family member, carer, or support worker, and can take many forms: physical, emotional, sexual, financial, or […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3320","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sntnetwork.org.uk\/DV\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3320","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sntnetwork.org.uk\/DV\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sntnetwork.org.uk\/DV\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sntnetwork.org.uk\/DV\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sntnetwork.org.uk\/DV\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3320"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sntnetwork.org.uk\/DV\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3320\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sntnetwork.org.uk\/DV\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3320"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}