People with Disabilities
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About
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Websites
People with disabilities are more reliant on other people and/or aids and supports to meet their basic needs and fulfil their goals. This dependency makes them more vulnerable to abuse by those on whom they rely. Yet without carers, they often could not live in the community. Their needs and difficulties may mean that they have little interaction with others outside the home. This means the abuse can go unchallenged.
Problems with accessing services
- If disabled since birth, a victim may have developed attitudes over their lifetime about how to cope with being dependent. This may include a view that emotions and feelings need to be stifled to make sure more basic needs are met.
- A victim may never see a professional alone, therefore never have the opportunity to tell anyone what is going on.
- The victim may find it difficult to prioritise their safety over other physical needs that are being met.
- Refuges – essential that they have a room that is suited to the needs of the victim, for instance, ground floor access and doors wide enough to get a wheelchair through.
- Other services may overlook signs of abuse if the abuser is the carer. Removing the carer may give the service a lot of work to do to find another carer at short notice. And while the suspected abuse is being investigated, they could make things worse for the client.
- Client may be discouraged from seeking help because prior bad experiences with authorities where they made decisions for the client.
- Because needs are great, the victim may value stability over safety.
See the weblinks tab for websites that can offer help and support.
