NCJ Number
146831
Journal
Journal of Social Work and Human Sexuality Volume: 8 Issue: 2 Dated: special issue (1993) Pages: 137-159
Date Published
1993
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This overview of the problem of sexual assault for people with disabilities begins with basic definitions, typical dynamics, and prevalence indicators.
Abstract
The article discusses the issues of acquaintance rape and informed consent, and outlines a profile of perpetrators with disabilities. Eight factors associated with vulnerability to victimization among disabled persons are identified: their dependence on others for long-term care, society's denial of their basic human rights, offenders' belief of a reduced risk of discovery, the difficulty they have in being believed, a lack of education about sexuality, a tendency toward social isolation and loneliness, difficulty in taking risk-reducing precautions, and the tendency to try to mainstream disabled persons without attending to their individual's capacities for self-protection. Disabled sexual assault victims may be challenged by the impact of the victimization, the process of disclosure and reporting, and the need to obtain assistance and recovery support. Sexual assault prevention among this population must focus both on decreasing an individual's vulnerability to victimization and increasing the security of social and physical environments. 50 references