It is estimated that women with disabilities are 1.5 to 10 times as likely to be abused as non-disabled women, depending on whether they live in the community or in institutions. While a disability can make it more difficult for a woman to escape or report abuse, social attitudes towards persons with disabilities are probably a bigger factor in her increased vulnerablility to violence. 10 Women with disabilities are vulnerable at all stages of their lives because they are women and because they have a disability. Growing old increases the likelihood of becoming disabled, which can increase the likelihood of abuse. It should be noted that abuse can result in disability.
Physical abuse can cause permanent physical damage.
12 Women have cited violence by husbands as causing loss of vision, and loss of mobility. All forms of abuse are emotionally traumatic and can leave psychological scars from which a victim never recovers. Research has only just begun in this area, but indications are that women and children with disabilities are one of the most highly victimized groups in our society. Women's Network found that violence and fear of violence were the most critical issues facing women with disabilities. One study suggests that we can expect to encounter significant disabilities in about one of every seven victims of child sexual abuse.