Title: Sexual Abuse of People with Disabilities | RAINN
Headings: Sexual Abuse of People with Disabilities
Sexual Abuse of People with Disabilities
Understanding the crime
The role of consent
Getting help
What are the warning signs for child sexual abuse?
Every 68 seconds, another American is sexually assaulted.
95¢ of every $1 goes to helping survivors and preventing sexual violence.

Content: People with different disabilities may face different challenges and have very different needs. Some disabilities may put people at higher risk for crimes like sexual assault or abuse. Someone who needs regular assistance may rely on a person who is abusing them for care, a common factor in elder abuse. The perpetrator may use this power to threaten, coerce, or force someone into non-consensual sex or sexual activities. An abuser may take away access to the tools a person with a disability uses to communicate, such as a computer or phone. People with disabilities may be less likely to be taken seriously when they make a report of sexual assault or abuse. They may also face challenges in accessing services to make a report in the first place. For example, someone who is Deaf for Deaf-Blind may face challenges accessing communication tools, like a phone, to report the crime or get help. Many people with disabilities may not understand or lack information about healthy sexuality and the types of touching that are appropriate or inappropriate. This can be especially challenging if a person’s disability requires other people to touch them to provide care.