People with disabilities are sexually assaulted at nearly three times the rate of people without disabilities. A 2005 survey of people with disabilities indicated that 60 percent of respondents had been subjected to some form of unwanted sexual activity. Unfortunately, almost half never reported the assault. In general, people with disabilities experience domestic and sexual violence at higher rates than people who do not have a form of disability. Consider the following:
- 83% of women with disabilities will be sexually assaulted in their lives.
- Just 3% of sexual abuses involving people with developmental disabilities are ever reported.
- 50% of girls who are deaf have been sexually abused compared to 25% of girls who are hearing; 54% of boys who are deaf have been sexually abused in comparison to 10% of boys who are hearing.
- Women with a disability are far more likely to have a history of undesired sex with an intimate partner – 19.7% vs. 8.2%.
- Approximately 80% of women and 30% of men with developmental disabilities have been sexually assaulted – half of these women have been assaulted more than 10 times.[1]
- ^Disabled World News (2012-11-20) – People who experience forms of disabilities may face limited options where escaping from abusive relationship is concerned: http://www.disabled-world.com/disability/sexuality/assaults.php#ixzz2SXMEQWra