Center Proposes Abuse Intervention Model for Women with Disabilities

A new intervention model aims to raise awareness about abuse against women with disabilities, as well as help those women leave abusive situations.

The intervention kit, compiled by the Center for Research on Women with Disabilities (CROWD) at Baylor College of Medicine, contains information on how to develop a safety plan, and provides battered women's programs, social service programs, and independent living centers with the tools to help meet the special needs of these women. The kit is also designed to alert the public about the growing number of abuse cases against women with disabilities.

"Our research has shown 62 percent of women, both with and without physical disabilities, have been physically, sexually or emotionally abused at one time in their lives," says Dr. Margaret Nosek, CROWD director. "We found that the mere need for help with everyday activities opens women with disabilities up to other forms of abuse related to their disability."

Withholding the use of a wheelchair or crutches, refusing to cook, feed, wash, dress or take a woman with a disability to the restroom are common forms of abuse. Many abusers will also take advantage of the woman's weakness by forcing her to perform sexual favors in exchange for care.

In order to find a solution to this problem, Dr. Nosek believes battered women's and social service programs need to regularly screen for abuse, help women with safety planning, form abuse intervention programs for women with special needs, and provide information and resources to those in abusive situations.

"Women with disabilities also need to take action," says Dr. Nosek, a Baylor professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation. "Once they realize they are women of value, who deserve to live life without the fear of threats, violence, humiliation or isolation, they will be able to gather the strength to leave an abusive situation."

For more information about the abuse intervention kit, call the Center for Research on Women with Disabilities at 1-800-44-CROWD.

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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