Disabled people and domestic abuse spotlight
Disabled women are more likely to experience domestic abuse, but referral rates to domestic abuse services are low. So how can we better support disabled survivors?
Key findings
- Disabled women are twice as likely to experience domestic abuse as non-disabled women
- Disabled victims typically experience domestic abuse for a longer period of time before accessing support (3.3 years’ average length of abuse vs 2.3 years)
- Disabled victims are more likely to be living with the perpetrator of the abuse
- Of the 16,000 disabled people experiencing high risk domestic abuse, an estimated 13,600 either are not supported by a Marac or their disability is not identified by the Marac process
- Despite continuing to experience a higher level of abuse at case closure, only 9% of disabled victims are engaging or accessing adult safeguarding services
Report recommendations
- Involve disabled people in the prevention of domestic abuse
- Promote greater understanding about the dynamics of disability and domestic abuse
- Promote greater awareness of hidden impairments
- Ensure institutional advocacy for disabled victims of domestic abuse
