Studies suggest that women with disabilities are subjected to violence at least as often as the general female population. The problem has long been invisible in research, health and human services, and public debate. But it has been rising to the surface in recent years.
Women with disabilities run a high risk of violence for a number of reasons, which are all related to their dependence, invisibility or defencelessness. Many of the women are dependent on the support and service of family members, personal assistants, transport service drivers or other personnel for their activities of daily living.

They may be the people who discover that a woman has been subjected to violence, but they may also be perpetrators. Invisibility may take the form of criminal acts that are redefined as neglect or shortcomings in various organisations, or attitudes that identify these women with their disability rather than with their humanity, gender or sexuality. As a result, the sexual abuse to which they may have been subjected is even harder to detect.

The type and degree of a woman’s disability also affects her risk of being subjected to violence. According to researchers, women with psychological and intellectual disabilities are at particular risk of being victims.
Like women in general, those with disabilities are most often victims of intimate partner violence. Violence in intimate relationships often manifests as a combination of different acts. In addition to threats and physical and sexual violence, abuse may have psychological, emotional, social, financial and material dimensions. Women frequently talk about the ways that violence and violations of their integrity tend to target their particular disability.
Violence against this group of women is a concern of many different authorities and organisations. The social services are responsible for ensuring that they receive the support and assistance they need. Legislative amendments that came into force in 2007 clarified that responsibility. Various healthcare services are important for detecting and calling attention to violence, as well as for offering treatment, support and assistance to the victims.

Attitudes and procedures in the judicial system may determine whether a woman who has been subjected to violence has the confidence and willingness – or even the capacity if she also has a disability – to cooperate with legal proceedings.
Women’s shelters, crime victim support centres and other nongovernmental organisations (NGO:s) can often supplement the activities of the authorities in valuable ways. Cooperation among various authorities and organisations is of vital significance.

A courteous, knowledgeable attitude is integral to successfully supporting a woman who has been subjected to violence. If she has a disability, personnel may have to be particularly sensitive and flexible in order to ensure clear communication. Moreover, the various interventions that authorities and other organisations have to offer must be made available to this group of women from several points of view. Social welfare offices, community health centres and other care facilities must be accessible so that women can find out about available interventions, as well as have the opportunity to talk about their circumstances and obtain sheltered housing if necessary.

The purpose of this guide is to raise awareness and skills among various professionals to ensure that the needs of these women for support are more fully satisfied.

socialstyrelsen.se, 13/2/2012