Violence: disabled women are primary targets in U.S.

By Herb Drill

Violence against the disabled “should be discussed,” asserts Dr. Paul Fink, of the Dept. of Psychiatry at Philadelphia ’s Temple University . But Dr. Karin Rhodes, in emergency medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania , says disabled victims of violence are “willing to discuss it with a healthcare provider but are reluctant to bring it up.”

Then, Aimee Bower, director of client services for Project Horizon Inc., in Lexington, Va. (abower@rockbridge.net) explained at the seventh annual World Congress on Disabilities and Expo (WCD, www.wcdexpo.com) at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, there is a circle of “power and control” that perpetuates the abuse of people with disabilities. Within that circle are coercion and threats; intimidation; emotional abuse; isolation; minimizing, justifying, and blaming the abused; withholding, misusing, or delaying needed daily supports; economic abuse, and assumed caregiver privilege.

Beverly L. Frantz asked her World Congress audience rhetorically: “Why is the incidence and prevalence of victimization against people with disabilities,” particularly if there’s also a developmental disability, “an issue?” Frantz opened the three-day Congress with that question and stated people with disabilities are four to 10 times more likely to be victims of crime than other people, and 50% of patients who are long-term residents of hospitals and specialized rehabilitation centers are there due to crime-related injuries.

Bower provided alarming statistics: People with disabilities are at least twice as vulnerable to abuse as the general population. Women with disabilities are 10.7 times as likely to be sexually assaulted as other women. A study of one offender group found 48% gained access to victims through work in disability services and 52% of offenders were family members, acquaintances, and peers with disabilities. “The history of violence against the disabled shows them having been euthanized, sterilized, lobotomized, raped, murdered, tortured, stoned, left to die, or gassed in Nazi Germany. They’ve been institutionalized and subjected to experimental surgery; segregated in special education programs; exhibited at `freak shows’; burned at the stake, and posed for pornography,” she added.

As for dynamics, Bower sees the perpetrator having an “economic hold or social power” over the victim. There’s little or no contact with anyone other than caregivers, who may be the perpetrator(s); decreased access to violence-related support services because of lack of knowledge or transportation; the disabled are perceived to be less competent and less reliable when reporting or disclosing abuse, and persons with disabilities are seen as asexual and incapable of being assaulted.

WCD Expo is one of the largest events for people with disabilities and all who are affected, such as family members, friends, healthcare professionals, caregivers, and educators. More than 200 exhibitors displayed products and services designed to ease and enrich the lives of individuals facing a range of challenges. William Schwaninger, president/CEO of WCD Expo Inc., said more than 80 authorities made presentations designed specifically for people with developmental and physical disabilities, their families, and professionals who serve them. “Some of the world’s leading physicians and healthcare experts provided state-of-the-art solutions and therapies, while individuals who have conquered countless obstacles inspire others to defy difficulty and thrive,” said Schwaninger.

As criminal justice coordinator in the Institute on Disabilities at Philadelphia’s Temple University, Frantz coordinates training, technical assistance, curriculum development, and data collection to prompt equal justice for victims, witnesses, and defendants. She has published numerous articles and personal safety/sexual abuse curricula after she earned a Master’s degree from Villanova University and the London School of Economics. She is a doctoral candidate in human sexuality, concentrating on disabilities. With Dr. Terri Pease, Frantz (bfrantz@temple.edu) wrote Your Safety, Your Rights, a personal safety and abuse prevention program for adults with disabilities and for service providers.

Frantz argues it’s “critical” to understand how sexuality interfaces with disclosing violence, reporting violence, effective personal safety education, and participating in crisis counseling. Misconceptions about the disabled include they don’t like, need, or are interested in sex, they can’t control their sex drive, sexual issues are ignored, or sexuality gets suppressed; they can’t take responsibility for their sexual activities; they make things up - especially about sex, and sexual behavior is considered maladaptive or criminalized.

Another aspect, Frantz explained, is that “we change our vocabulary depending upon who we are talking to - parents/guardians often give names to their child’s genitals. That can be confusing because of the many different names/meaning given to one word.” Her advice for better communication is we “reduce vocabulary, limit abstract words and concepts, [and correct] pronoun confusion” because there “may be gaps between receptive and expressive skills.”

As you may assume, Frantz noted, women with disabilities reported experiencing their abuse for longer periods of time. Women with physical disabilities in rural settings tend to experience violence and abuse over a longer duration and have fewer options for leaving than victims in urban settings. Adding insult to injury, Frantz said, offenders are often care providers and there are very few treatment/healing support services. More than half the crime never reported, the disabled aren’t perceived as credible witnesses, they’re handled administratively, with lower rates of police follow-up, prosecution, and convictions.

Frantz shared one victim’s response for not telling after being sexual assaulted: “I don’t tell people, they tell me… All my life, people tell me what to do.” The trauma suffered by victims with disabilities is “just as severe as the trauma experienced by people without disabilities who survive crimes,” Frantz emphasized.

She asked some rhetorical questions: “Did you know people with power are permitted to touch those with less; how much space a person `takes up’ can indicate authority; posture, gesture, body movements, dress, and jewelry can indicate power; making and breaking eye contact belongs to the person with more power; and `specialized’ language (acronyms) can exclude or create power differentials.”

Concerning media influences, Frantz argued TV shows and commercials provide the viewer with a value statement about family, work, sexuality. It may not be your family, work, or sexuality value but it is a value, an impression of what is acceptable - especially with relationships and sexuality. Young people eight to 18 view approximately 3.5 hours of TV every day and are exposed to an estimated 3,000 ads per day; 20-50% of music videos portray sexuality or eroticism; 67% of movies each year are R-rated.

People with disabilities experience the same sexual desires in response to the same situation and stimuli as people without disabilities, Frantz maintains. “People with disabilities aren’t asexual. Sexual maturity is often younger than their chronological age and usually closer to intellectual age. There must be accurate sexual language, appropriate sexual language, appropriate sexual expression, and an understanding of intent and consequences” to help avoid violence.

Bower suggested strongly that the abused “tell someone who can help - the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (www.ncadv.org), Rape Abuse and Incest National Network (www.rainn.org), American with Disabilities Act Information (www.doj.gov), Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization (www.vawa2005.org), a close friend, or law enforcement.”