Disability and Domestic Violence

People with disabilities, particularly women, experience much higher levels of domestic violence and neglect, and for a longer period of time, than people without disabilities. However, the exact rates are currently unknown as sadly very little attention has been paid to this issue, and no comprehensive data exists. There are several reasons for the much higher rates of violence experienced by people with a disability:

Social myths

People with disabilities are often incorrectly dismissed as a burden, completely incapable of making decisions or doing anything for themselves, and not having the same desires and needs as people without disabilities. In some communities they are even considered a sign of sin, or a disgrace on the family. This is untrue. In fact, several pious figures in the history of Islam had disabilities.

Taught to be submissive

People with disabilities, particularly those with intellectual disabilities, are taught to be compliant and cooperative. This makes it difficult for them to defend themselves against abuse.

Reliance on the abuser

Disability policies tend to rely on family members to provide care and support to the person, meaning the person is forced to be reliant on their abuser.

Poor access to information

People with disabilities often have little to no access to information and resources due to communication difficulties, cognitive disability, or the caregiver being the abuser and denying access.

Service gaps

Domestic violence prevention and support services are not properly equipped to support people with disabilities, particularly those with intellectual disabilities. Disability support services rarely provide programs for the prevention of domestic violence, and rarely provide support for victims of violence.

Lack of prevention services

Programs that aim to teach relationship skills and avoid domestic violence exclude people with disabilities.

People living in residential facilities

Group homes, psychiatric facilities, aged care facilities, prisons, and other facilities are settings which sometimes lend themselves to higher rates of violence.

Difficulty reporting abuse

People with certain types of disabilities may have trouble comprehending and communicating that they are being, or have been, abused. Abusers take advantage of this, sometimes targeting victims where there is a lower risk of being caught.

Who are the abusers?

The statistics show abusers have the following relationship with the victim. However, these statistics are likely to be inaccurate for people with disabilities given different vulnerabilities and living arrangements.

Male spouse/partner - 43%

Parent - 15%
Female spouse/partner - 11%
Other relative - 8%
Child - 7%
Another person, such as a neighbour - 6%
Carer - 4%
Work colleague - 2%
Healthcare professional - 2%
House or flat mate - 1%
Clergy - 1%

What are your rights in your relationships with other people?

To be safe from physical harm. This includes physical harm from abuse (such as hitting or slapping), and physical harm from neglect (such as being allowed to develop pressure sores, or developing rashes as continence pants are not changed frequently). Physical abuse may also take the form of providing care in cruel ways, such as bathing a person in cold water.

To be valued and loved, and not made to feel sad, worthless, scared, lonely, or anxious.

To have control over your own money. Note: even if a person's ability means they require assistance in managing their money their opinion should always be sought and included in decision making.

To have your basic needs met in a way that ensures good health, comfort and quality of life.

To be included in your community and family activities. You should never be left out, or confined to your room or home

To be in charge of your own life and care. If a person's ability means they require assistance in decision making their opinion should always be sought and considered.

To have access to recreational activities and social interaction. This includes being able to have your own friends and activities outside of your family, and having access to romantic relationships.

To be allowed to be independent, and provided with the equipment or support necessary to promote your independence.

What is domestic violence?

There are many types of abuse that constitute domestic violence. Often, the victim is subject to more than one type. Threatening to carry out any of the following abuse also constitutes abuse. Abusers often manipulate the victim and employ emotional abuse to make the victim believe they are to blame. The victim is never to blame. There is nothing a person could do to warrant abuse. There is no excuse. It is the abuser's fault. Domestic violence and abuse is against Australian law. It is also against the principles of Islam.

Creating fear

Fear is a key element of domestic violence, and is often the tool used by an abuser to control the victim. It can be created through giving a look, threats, gestures, possessing weapons, destroying property, cruelty to threats, and anything that else that intimidates a person or causes them to feel powerless.

Intimidation

Intimidation creates a show of power designed to make the victim feel powerless and afraid, and cause the victim to be submissive. Examples include destroying possessions, punching walls, handling weapons, yelling, angry looks, hostile interrogation or accusations, and reckless driving with the victim in the car. Harassing the victim at work by repeated phone calls, emails or messages, loitering outside the workplace, or following the victim to and from work is also intimidation.

Stalking

Stalking can include physically following a person, or frequent and unwanted phone calls, text messages or emails. Stalking can also include logging into a person's social media or email, or reading text messages. The victim themselves may be stalked, or their friends or family. Stalking can sometimes occur without a person's knowledge by way of technology, such as retrieving data on websites visited, tracking a person by GPS, or keystroke logging hardware.

Emotional violence

Emotional violence is behaviour that undermines the victim's confidence, leading the victim to believe they are stupid, useless, weak, insane, a bad parent or child or spouse, a bad Muslim, or other negative perceptions. Emotional violence humiliates, degrades and demeans the victim. It may be caused by verbal violence, physical violence, threats of harm to loved ones, threatening to commit suicide, or by being silent or withdrawn.

Physical violence

Physical violence includes hitting, kicking, slapping, smacking, grabbing, hair-pulling, attempted strangulation, burning, pushing, and shaking. It may or may not involve the use of weapons. Physical violence also includes threats of physical harm to the victim, their children, pets, or others. Damaging, or threatening to damage, possessions or property is also physical abuse. Physical violence does not just cause immediate physical harm, but can also cause lasting physical and emotional harm. Physical violence ranges from physical discomfort to injury, and even death.

Sexual violence

Sexual violence is any unwanted sexual behaviour. It includes doing any of the following to a person without their prior informed permission: sexual intercourse, other sexual acts, kissing, forcing a person to look at pornographic material, sexually related verbal violence, exposing a private part of your body in front of another person, removing a person's clothes, touching a person in a particular area or manner, causing injury to the sexual organs, speaking about sexual acts or parts of the body, sending sexually explicit messages, or distributing any information or images of a person's body or sexual experiences. Another form of sexual violence is refusing to do something unless a person performs a sexual activity, or coercing a person to perform a sexual activity in order to receive a "reward". Sexual violence can cause lasting physical and emotional harm.

If a person consented to an activity, but later changes their mind then they must stop immediately. It is your right to change your mind. You do not have to do something just because you originally said yes.

Some people with disabilities can have difficulty communicating in traditional ways. If there is any doubt as to whether they have provided their consent then the action must not go ahead. Failing to say no does not equal consent. A person must agree. If they do not, it is abuse.

If a person is unable to understand what they are being asked, or there is doubt concerning their level of understanding, then they have not provided consent. This includes some people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, or people on medication that makes them confused or very drowsy.

Reproductive control

Reproductive control involves preventing a woman from having access to, and control over, her sexual health, contraception, termination, and number and timing of children.

Verbal violence

Verbal violence is using words to cause emotional harm. It can take the form of put downs, name-calling, swearing, using sarcasm, or ridiculing a person. Yelling at a person, or speaking in a nasty or rude manner is also verbal violence. Verbal violence may be a precursor to physical abuse.

Threats

Threats also constitute domestic violence. Threats may be of physical harm to the person, a pet, or another loved one. Threats may also be to institutionalise a person eg to place the person in a nursing home or hospital.

Social abuse

Social abuse is when a person is isolated from social networks or supports, such as friends, family or the community. It can occur by keeping a person confined to their home, refusing to allow the person to visit friends or family on their own if they desire, withholding equipment or support that enables the person to undertake social activities, using physical or verbal violence in front of others, or putting down friends or family. Social isolation can occur gradually.

Financial abuse

Financial abuse involves the perpetrator taking over control of the victim's finances, spending and financial decision without their permission or input so the victim is dependent on the abuser. Denying the victim access to money, and forcing her, her children and pets to live on inadequate resources, or demanding the victim account for every cent spent, also constitutes financial abuse. Financial abuse is often a contributing factor to victims being 'trapped' in a violent relationship.

Neglect

Neglect is when a person's basic needs and rights are denied. Neglect compromises a person's health and quality of life. It can even kill. Examples include refusing medication or medical treatment, not bathing a person, failing to provide appropriate food and drink, not dressing a person to suit the weather, or forcing a person to fast when their medical conditions mean it is unsafe.

Controlling behaviour

Controlling someone, or compromising their independence is abuse. Examples include dictating what the victim does, how they dress, where they go, who they see or talk to, keeping them from making friends, preventing them seeing family, preventing them working or studying, or not allowing them to express their feelings. For people with disabilities controlling behaviour can include not allowing the person to determine what care they receive, how and when. It can also include taking control of a person's finances without their permission or input.

Moving a person's mobility or disability aid, or refusing to provide suitable aids required to promote independence and allow the person to take part in the community, socialise, study or work also constitutes controlling behaviour. A further example is not permitting a person to do something for themselves if they are able to, such as refusing to let a person shop for themselves, or refusing to allow a person to travel on the bus instead of being driven.

Spiritual abuse

Spiritual abuse involves ridiculing or putting down a person's religious beliefs or culture, or preventing them from practicing their religion, belonging to a religious group, or taking part in activities important to her spirituality or beliefs. This includes forcing a person to practice Islam, or preventing a person from practicing a different religion. The Quran, surah Al-Baqara ayah 256, states that "There is no compulsion in religion".

How to stay safe and where to get help

We often underestimate the amount of danger we are in either because we don't realise, don't understand the danger we are in, or choose to deny it. Part of an abuser's control focuses on downplaying the seriousness of their abuse. Abusers frequently apologise, and promise to change. This is a lie aimed at manipulating you into staying. It can be difficult to assess the level of risk, or to determine a solution, on your own. This is why we have many services with well trained staff that aim to help your work out your level of risk, get the support you need, and provide you with information.

If you or another person is being yelled at, threatened, hit, locked in your home, neglected, or is at immediate risk call 000

National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service(24 hours 7 days a week; free call) - 1800 737 732 (1800 Respect)

Phone counselling

Online counselling - https://www.1800respect.org.au/get-help/

Information

Mensline - 1300 78 99 78

Provides support to men

Phone counselling

Online video counselling - https://www.mensline.org.au/

Your doctor

Your local health centre

A trusted friend or family member

A trusted carer or support worker

Under 25 year olds:

Kids Help Line - 1800 55 1800 (24 hours 7 days a week; free call)

Telephone counselling

Youth worker at your nearest youth centre

Counselling

Case management

Recreational activities

Referral

ACT: Domestic Violence Crisis Service - 6280 0900 (24 hours 7 days a week)

Young People's Outreach Program

If you are concerned a child or teenager is being neglected or abused contact:

ACT - Child and Youth Protection Services 1300 556 729

NSW - Child Protection Helpline 132 111

NT - Department of Health and Families 1800 700 250

QLD - Department of Child Safety Crisis Care 1800 177 135

SA - Child Abuse Report Line 13 14 78

TAS - Department of Human Health and Human Services 1300 737 639

VIC - Child Protection Emergency Service 13 12 78

WA - Family and Children's Services 1800 622 258

Services near you

To find other domestic violence, abuse or assault services near you contact 1800 73 7732 (1800 Respect), or visit their website at https://www.1800respect.org.au/get-help/
A few notable examples are included below.

ACT

Canberra Rape Crisis Centre - (02) 6247 2525 (7am-11pm 7 days a week)

Crisis and counselling support for women and children who have experienced rape, sexual assault, sexual abuse, or ritual abuse in the past or recently.

Advocacy

Support through legal and medical processes

Referral

Support for family and friends

Group counselling and art therapy

Domestic Violence Crisis Service (ACT) - (02) 6280 0900 (24 hours 7 days a week)

Crisis intervention (24 hours 7 days a week)

Court support (Monday to Friday, except for public holidays)

Family violence intervention program (case tracking) (Monday to Friday, except for public holidays)

Support groups (weekly during school terms)

Forensic and Medical Sexual Assault Care - (02) 6244 2185 (24 hours 7 days a week)

Forensic and medical examination following sexual assault

Choice of male or female doctor

Referral to counselling

Free service, and strictly confidential

Service Assisting Male Survivors of Sexual Assault - (02) 6287 3935 (9am-5pm Monday-Friday)

Face to face or telephone counselling

Support groups

Information

Referral

NSW

Domestic Violence Line - 1800 65 6463 or TTY 1800 67 1442 (24 hours 7 days a week; free call)

Casework

Referral to refuges

Support to obtain an Apprehended Violence Order

Domestic Violence Legal Service - (02) 8745 6900

Casework

Legal advice

Advocacy

Immigrant Women's Speakout Association - (02) 9635 8022

Application for Family Violence Provision to remain in Australia permanently after relationship breakdown

Access to financial assistance

Housing and crisis accommodation

Support to obtain an Apprehended Violence Order

Legal and immigration advice

Court support

NSW Rape Crisis - 1800 42 4017 (24 hours 7 days a week; free call)

Phone counselling

Online counselling - http://nswrapecrisis.com.au/###

Bravehearts - 1800 272 831 (8am-8pm Monday-Friday; free call)

Provides support to children and adults who have experienced childhood sexual assault

Information, resources and referral

Case management

Counselling

Support to disclose sexual assault/abuse

RSPCA Safe Beds for Pets - (02) 9770 7555

Temporary accommodation for pets of people escaping domestic violence

Sexual Assault Referral Centre - (08) 8922 6472

Counselling for adults and children who have experienced sexual violence in the past or recently

Information, support and counselling for family and friends

Support through the legal process

Queensland

DV Connect - 1800 811 811

Counselling

Free interpreters

Intervention

Transport

Emergency accommodation

Referral to refuges and other services

Emergency rescue for women, children and pets

Court and legal support for women

Dedicated men's line - 1800 600 636 (9am-midnight 7 days a week; free call)

Dedicated sexual assault helpline - 1800 010 120 (free call)

Living Well - 1300 114 397 (free call from landlines)

Provides support for male survivors of childhood sexual abuse

Telephone counselling

Online counselling - http://www.livingwell.org.au/

Support Groups

Information

Bravehearts - 1800 272 831 (8am-8pm Monday-Friday; free call)

Provides support to children and adults who have experienced childhood sexual assault

Information, resources and referral

Case management

Counselling

Support to disclose sexual assault/abuse

South Australia

SA Domestic Violence Gateway Helpline - 1800 800 098 (24 hours 7 days a week; free call)

Phone counselling

Information

Yarrow Place - 1800 817 421 (9am-5pm Monday-Friday, after hours redirected to the Sexual Assault Crisis Line for crisis response, brief counselling and referral to Yarrow Place; free call)

Provides support for adults over 16 years of age who have experienced sexual violence in the past or recently

Counselling for victims, family and friends

Medical support

Forensic evidence collection

Tasmania

Family Violence Response and Referral Line - 1800 633 937 (24 hours 7 days a week; free call)

Counselling

Crisis intervention

Court and legal support

Laurel House - (03) 6334 2740 (North) or (03) 6431 9711 (North-West) or 1800 697 877 after hours (1800 my support)

Supports adult and child victims of sexual violence

Phone and face to face counselling

Support through the forensic, medical and legal process

Information and referral

Victoria

Safe Steps - 1800 01 5188 (24 hours 7 days a week; free call)

Telephone counselling

Information

Referral

Accommodation support - central contact point for women's refuges, support to access alternative accommodation options

24 hour access to interpreters

Sexual Assault Crisis Line - 1800 806 292 (5pm to 9am the following morning Monday-Friday and throughout weekends and public holidays; free call)

Phone counselling

Information

Advocacy

Crisis face to face support for people experiencing sexual violence within the last 2 weeks

Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria - (03) 9486 9866 (9am-5pm Monday-Friday)

Information on services available in your area

Western Australia:

Women's Domestic Violence Helpline - 1800 007 339 (24 hours 7 days a week; free call)

Counselling

Information

Referral to refuges and services

Crisis intervention

Interpreters available

Men's Domestic Violence Helpline - 1800 000 599 (24 hours 7 days a week; free call)

Phone counselling, information and referral for male victims of domestic violence

Phone counselling, information and referral for men concerned about their abusive or violent behaviour

Interpreters available

Sexual Assault Resource Centre - 9340 1828 (24 hours 7 days a week) or 1800 199 888 (rural free call)

Provides support for victims of sexual violence within the last 2 weeks

Medical and forensic care

Crisis counselling

Waratah - 1800 017 303 (free call)

Supports adult and child victims of sexual violence or family violence

Phone and face to face counselling

Group therapy

Therapeutic intervention

Advocacy

Rural in Reach - 1800 998 399

Free counselling by video or phone for rural women

References

Better Health Channel 2014, Domestic violence and women with disabilities, Department of Health and Human Services, Melbourne, Australia, viewed 27 November 2015, <https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/domestic-violence-and-women-with-disabilities>

Kavanagh, A and Robinson, S 2015, 'We count what matters, and violence against people with disability matters', The Conversation, 27 November, viewed 30 November 2015, <https://theconversation.com/we-count-what-matters-and-violence-against-people-with-disability-matters-51320>

Back to Information Resources

To be valued and loved, and not made to feel sad, worthless, scared, lonely, or anxious.

To have control over your own money. Note: even if a person's ability means they require assistance in managing their money their opinion should always be sought and included in decision making.

To have your basic needs met in a way that ensures good health, comfort and quality of life.

To be included in your community and family activities. You should never be left out, or confined to your room or home

To be in charge of your own life and care. If a person's ability means they require assistance in decision making their opinion should always be sought and considered.

To have access to recreational activities and social interaction. This includes being able to have your own friends and activities outside of your family, and having access to romantic relationships.

To be allowed to be independent, and provided with the equipment or support necessary to promote your independence.