{"id":5727,"date":"2021-08-04T16:03:48","date_gmt":"2021-08-04T23:03:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dixonsociety.ca\/?p=5727"},"modified":"2021-08-04T16:05:52","modified_gmt":"2021-08-04T23:05:52","slug":"can-having-a-disability-alter-the-experience-of-domestic-violence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dixonsociety.ca\/can-having-a-disability-alter-the-experience-of-domestic-violence\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Having a Disability Alter the Experience of Domestic Violence?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Women living with one or more disabilities disproportionately experience violence, including domestic violence. In fact, compared to non-disabled women, they are nearly twice as likely to experience sexual or physical assault by an intimate partner in their lifetime<\/a>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Living with a disability can also impact the way abuse is experienced. How a disability affects one physically, mentally, financially, or otherwise could become something an abuser uses against a woman. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way women experience abuse can also be influenced by their disability. The physical, mental, financial and other implications of their disability could potentially be exploited by their abuser.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Further, the challenges faced because of a disability can add an additional layer of hardship when fleeing. Finding a safe space that provides all the necessary amenities to accommodate unique needs can be difficult for a woman living with one or more disabilities. Today we dig deeper into how having a disability changes the way abuse and fleeing an abuser is experienced. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Elevated Risk<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While over one in five women in Canada identifies as having a disability, about 45% of all violent crimes, including physical assault, robbery, and sexual assault, victimize women living with disabilities<\/a>. These reports also show that women with disabilities are 4 times more likely than those without disabilities to experience sexual assault.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, 55% of women with one or more disabilities report experiencing intimate partner violence<\/a>, compared to 37% of non-disabled women.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Disabilities go beyond physical aspects as well. People living with mental or behavioural disabilities experience domestic violence at a rate 4 times higher than those with none.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having a disability may lead to increased isolation or reliance on intimate partners for everyday support. This can lead to abusers treating a woman\u2019s disability as a reason to exert control or power over them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Disability Can Change How Domestic Violence Presents Itself<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Women living with disabilities face abuse like non-disabled women. But, they can also face violence that pertains directly to their disability. Abuse against women with disabilities can also manifest as<\/a>:   <\/p>\n\n\n\n