Sexual violence is unwanted sexual behavior exhibited as a means of gaining power and control over another person. Sexual violence includes nonverbal, verbal, and physical sexual harassment; sexual assault; rape; sexual battery; and forced sodomy. Sexual violence occurs most frequently between those that are or have been in an intimate relationship as well as between new or former acquaintances, but can also occur between strangers in both opposite and same sex encounters. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) divides sexual violence into five categories: a completed sex act without the victim’s consent, an attempted sex act without the victim’s consent, abusive sexual conduct, non-contact sexual abuse, and unspecified sexual violence (1).

In order to satiate their desire for dominance, offenders often seek out victims they perceive to be the most accessible, vulnerable, and isolated. According to the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault, members of the disabled community may be at greater risk of sexual violence than the general population (2). A disability is characterized by the CDC as “limitations in mental or physical function, caused by one or more health conditions, in carrying out socially defined tasks and roles that individuals are expected to be able to do (3).” Disabilities vary from difficulties with mobility to cognitive, visual, hearing, or speech impairments. Perpetrators that prey upon the disabled are typically male, with 88-98% being known to the victim. Victimization of disabled persons often occurs within the home by health care providers, family members, acquaintances, or others with disabilities (2).

The dynamics involved with having a disability make the already devastating offense of sexual violence even more difficult to bear. In most cases, the disability in itself creates barriers which prevent the victim from advocating on their own behalf. The perpetrator may have a financial hold or social control over the victim. There may also be little access to victim support services due to lack of transportation or knowledge, especially in cases that involve the perpetrator being the primary caregiver which would enhance isolation of the victim. Disabled victims may also have difficulty holding credibility as they may be perceived as less competent when disclosing abuse. Sexuality also plays a role in that some may view members of the disabled community as asexual beings that are incapable of being sexually abused (2).