Women with disabilities appear to be at the same risk for emotional, physical, and sexual abuse as women without physical disabilities. But, if they are abused, they are more likely to be abused longer than women who do not have disabilities. The following resources offer information and advice on this difficult issue.

Last updated: August 2004

Publications

1.   Crime Victims With Disabilities Awareness Act (P.L. 105-301) Disabilities - Signed by President Clinton in October 1998, this legislation was designed to increase public awareness regarding developmentally disabled victims of crime, to collect data which measures the magnitude of the problem, and develop strategies to address the safety and justice needs particular to people with disabilities. This page provides links to the bill's summary, status, legislative history, and text.
   
   
2.   Division of Reproductive Health - Violence Against Women, CDC - This web page provides general and statistical information on family violence and violence against women. From this page, you can download.pdf documents or html documents.
   
   
3.   New Freedom Initiative: Fulfilling America's Promise to Americans with Disabilities - On February 1, 2001, President George W. Bush announced the New Freedom Initiative as part of a nationwide effort to remove barriers to community living for people with disabilities. This Internet site is a source for information about the initiative's specific proposals that directly involve the Department of Health and Human Services and information about Executive Order 13217, "Community-Based Alternatives for Individuals with Disabilities," issued on June 18, 2001.
   
   
4. Abuse (Copyright © Center for Research on Women with Disabilities) - This publication provides statistical information concerning abuse of women from the National Study of Women with Physical Disabilities.
   
   
5. Dispelling the Myth: "No one would ever abuse a woman with a disability" - This publication contains guidelines for physicians on how to identify signs of abuse in women with disabilities.
   
   
6. Prevalence of Abuse of Women with Physical Disabilities (Copyright © Center for Research on Women with Disabilities) - This fact sheet contains statistical information concerning the prevalence of abuse of women with physical disabilities from the National Study of Women with Physical Disabilities.
   
   

Organizations

1.   Bureau of Primary Health Care, HRSA, HHS
   
   
2.   DisabilityInfo.gov
   
   
3.   National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, CDC, OPHS, HHS
   
   
4.   National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, HHS
   
   
5. American Medical Women's Association
   
   
6. American Society for Reproductive Medicine
   
   
7. Center for Research on Women with Disabilities
   
   
8. National Center on Elder Abuse
   
   
9. Violence Against Women On-line Resources
   
   

= Indicates Federal Resources