Intimate Partner Violence and Disability-Specific Abuse: An Overlooked Issue and the Role of Local Health Departments

May 16, 2018 | Michelle Shapiro

By Whitney Thurman, NACCHO Health and Disability Fellow

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is defined as intentional behaviors toward an intimate partner in the form of intimidation; emotional abuse; physical, sexual, and/or psychological assault; or any other type of abusive action that is part of a systematic pattern of power and control. IPV has been associated with many lifelong mental, physical, and sexual health consequences including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicide, injury, asthma, diabetes, unintended pregnancy, STI, HIV, and unsafe abortions.

Anyone can experience IPV, but women with disabilities constitute one of the highest risk groups. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 25% of women living in the United States are victims of IPV, but that rate increases to 60% for women with disabilities, who also tend to experience abuse for longer periods of time.

In general, any limitation to a person’s ability to independently perform activities of daily living increases the risk of abuse and neglect. Evidence suggests that women with disabilities may experience unique forms of abuse that are difficult to recognize—making it even harder to get the kind of help they need. The American Psychological Association lists several types of disability-specific abuse that may go unrecognized by healthcare and other service providers. These include denying access to a person’s assistive devices (e.g., wheelchairs, prostheses, or communication devices), transportation, healthcare appointments, medications, or food; forcing someone to take medication or lie in soiled undergarments; and/or inappropriately touching a person while assisting with hygiene or dressing.

Factors that increase risk of abuse for women with disabilities include increased risk of isolation; contact with multiple potential perpetrators; increased physical, emotional, and economic dependency as a result of disability; difficulties identifying disability-related abuse; and cultural/societal barriers that impede the ability to find and obtain assistance.

Public health plays an important role in protecting women of all abilities from IPV. These three strategies can help local health departments (LHDs) recognize abuse experienced by women with disabilities:

  1. Collect data. LHDs should routinely collect data regarding disability to support program implementation and evaluation. The American Community Survey includes six questions intended to identify vision, hearing, cognitive, mobility, self-care, and independent living difficulties, and these questions are suggested as a national standard for disability data.
  2. Incorporate universal screening for IPV. Early recognition and professional intervention can help to reduce ongoing IPV. However, evidence suggests that as few as 15% of women with disabilities are asked by medical professionals if they have experienced abuse. LHDs should consider incorporating routine screening to identify disability-specific abuse tactics for all women who utilize programs and services provided by the health department. The most widely used IPV assessment for people with disabilities is the Abuse Assessment Screen – Disability (AAS-D). LHD staff should offer support to women completing the screening tool, including assistance with reading or clarifying the questions, and LHD staff should ensure that women are alone when completing the screening tool, with no family members and/or other caregivers or aids in the room. To maintain trust, the staff administering the screening tool should also tell the women if they are mandated reporters of abuse before beginning the screening process, as well as explain what the reporting procedures are if the women disclose abuse.
  3. Implement educational and awareness programs. Educational programs can teach and reinforce safety and self-advocacy skills that empower individuals to defend themselves and to speak up to stop potentially abusive situations. LHDs can collaborate with community partners to implement educational programs for women with disabilities, as well as parents of children with disabilities. This type of educational activity can have important outcomes at the individual level, but LHDs should also seek to intervene at the community level by engaging in awareness campaigns and initiatives to reframe cultural norms around IPV. RespectAbility is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to fighting stigmas and advancing opportunities for people with disabilities. This organization has developed and compiled a number of resources related to sexual education, sexual health, and intimate partner violence for people with disabilities that LHDs may find useful in developing and implementing educational programs. Find additional resources here.

LHDs are tasked with ensuring the health and well-being of their communities; understanding and addressing the important issue of IPV among women with disabilities can help a vulnerable population attain their maximum level of independence and their full health potential.

The NACCHO Health and Disability Fellowship is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Cooperative Agreement #5NU38OT000172-05-00 and the NACCHO Health and Disability Program.


636530147572900000

About Michelle Shapiro

Michelle Shapiro was formerly a communication specialist for the Environmental Health & Disability team at NACCHO.

More posts by Michelle Shapiro

Related Posts

Stakeholder Conference Call on the FDA Integrated Food...

You’re invited to join the call on April 2 to hear more.

Mar 25, 2024

Stakeholder Conference Call on the FDA Integrated Food...

2024 Vector Workshop SM photo 1
  • Tools & Resources
  • Extreme Weather
  • Opportunity
  • Technical Assistance

Join us in Florida for the 2024 Vector Control Hurricane...

An agenda-at-a-glance is now available.

Mar 12, 2024 | Anu Varma

Join us in Florida for the 2024 Vector Control Hurricane...

Produce vegetables grocery store i Stock 813211264
  • Food Safety & Inspection

Illinois Retail Program Standards Self-Assessment and...

A two-and-a-half-day, in-person workshop.

Mar 04, 2024 | Christina Rohland, Carolyn White

Illinois Retail Program Standards Self-Assessment and...

Lessons Learned From Local Health Departments
  • Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene

Meeting the Needs of People Experiencing Homelessness...

Article in March 2024 issue of the Journal of Public Health Management and...

Feb 09, 2024 | Rebecca Rainey

Meeting the Needs of People Experiencing Homelessness...

Vector control workshop 2019 4
  • Funding Opportunity
  • Tools & Resources
  • Opportunity
  • Training

2024 Vector Control Hurricane Crisis Workshop:...

Local vector control programs in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and...

Feb 08, 2024 | Anu Varma

2024 Vector Control Hurricane Crisis Workshop:...

Updates on Lead/Chromium in Applesauce: CDC Call on...

Join the CDC on February 8, 2024, at 2pm EST.

Feb 06, 2024

Updates on Lead/Chromium in Applesauce: CDC Call on...

Pool checklist
  • Tools & Resources
  • Webinar
  • Community Health
  • Water Quality

[Webinar] Using Environmental Health Data to Inform Pool...

Model Aquatic Health Code Network Webinar - February 2024.

Jan 29, 2024 | Rebecca Rainey

[Webinar] Using Environmental Health Data to Inform Pool...

Doctor Research Tools Preparedness

Please Share with Clinicians: Updated PFAS Information...

Updated information for clinicians to consider when seeing patients who have...

Jan 18, 2024 | Guest Author

Please Share with Clinicians: Updated PFAS Information...

I Stock 1354439496
  • Tools & Resources
  • COVID-19

Lessons Learned from NACCHO’s Wastewater Surveillance...

Read our new report to learn about the background and activities of each...

Jan 18, 2024 | Rebecca Rainey

Lessons Learned from NACCHO’s Wastewater Surveillance...

Back to Top