domestic abuse was in the news this week – specifically in Monday’s Guardian, which ran an insightful piece on victims of domestic abuse who also have a disability.
The article includes quotes from Dr Jackie Barron of Women’s Aid GB, and an interview with one incredibly brave woman who suffered abuse at the hands of her husband for 10 years.
The article highlights the unique difficulties that disabled victims of domestic abuse face – from physical dependency on the perpetrator, to being believed that violence is even occurring.
Simply being believed – an obstacle for any abuse victim – can be especially hard for disabled women. “You often hear: ‘Oh, he seems such a nice man,'” Barron says. “This seems to be even more the case for disabled women. ‘This man is providing care. He’s giving up his life … ‘ It can mean they’re much less likely to be believed.
You can read the full article on the Guardian website here.