Arc Guide About Victimization and Abuse

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have the highest rate of abuse compared to people with other disabilities. They are 3 times more likely to experience violent crime. Violent crime includes rape, assault, and robbery. The estimated rate of sexual assault against people with IDD is 7 times higher than people without disabilities. 65% of violence is by someone they know. This is often family members and caregivers.¹

Adults with IDD often have relationships with an imbalance of power and control. This imbalance, combined with barriers to access knowledge and experiences, creates:

Learned helplessness
Learned compliance
A desire to please others
No sense of personal boundaries

These learned behaviors could increase risk of harm in all areas of their lives. This includes where they live, learn, work, play, and worship.

People with IDD often share common factors that increase risk for harm:

They often experience relationships where there is an imbalance of power and control.
They are less likely or able to report.
When a report is made, they may not be believed.
They are targeted for the victimization and abuse due to having a disability.
They often think actions by others are normal and do not realize they have been victimized.
They are rarely educated about sexuality, healthy relationships, or provided with assertiveness training.
They are often isolated with very few ways to get help, get to a safe place, or access victim services or counseling.

People with IDD often share common factors that increase risk to harm others:

They often lack information and understanding about sexual expression and intimacy.
They have limited education and understanding about safe, healthy relationships and sexual behavior.
They may have difficulty expressing emotions.
They may have limited partner relationships.
They may have experienced sexual or physical abuse.
They may have exposure to violence or pornography.

People with IDD face many challenges and safety risks when navigating abuse. These are present whether they decide to stay, leave, or return to an abusive relationship. Fear is one of the most powerful reasons for staying. People may stay even when they experience abuse, neglect, sexual, or domestic violence.

Power and Control Dynamics

There are unique power and control dynamics experienced by persons with IDD. Abusers may target people with IDD because they see them as easy targets. Abusers use power and control tactics such as:

Becoming the primary caregiver before the abuse and then using their power to:
- Take advantage of persons with IDD who have been taught to obey authority
- Provide care that stresses the person’s dependency and takes advantage of them
- Deny the right to privacy
Exploiting the desire to please others
Taking advantage of people with IDD who have been denied access to sex education. This denial results in a lack of knowledge about sex and healthy relationships
Breaking or stealing adaptive equipment
Limiting access to or breaking equipment for communication, such as phones
Preventing reporting through threats or force
Telling the person with IDD they won’t be believed
Withholding access to food, healthcare, money, and transportation

Additional Factors

Society questions credibility when persons with disabilities report victimization and abuse
Society views persons with disabilities as non-sexual
Victims may not know how or where to report abuse
Community services may not have knowledge and training to support persons with IDD. This includes sexual violence centers, victim services, and law enforcement
Disability service providers may not question the caregiver’s actions
Fear of retaliation by disability service provider if they were to report

Sources

¹Bureau of Justice Statistics, Crime Against Persons with Disabilities, 2009-2015 Statistical Tables, (U.S. Department of Justice, 2017)

Resources

Crime Victims Bill of Rights for Minnesota

RapeHelpMN.org

Find a sexual assault program near you and connect with an advocate.Most programs have a 24-hour hotline.

Minnesota Day One Crisis Line

Emergency housing or shelter
Call 1-866-223-1111 or text 612-399-9995

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Call 1-800-273-8255
Free and confidential support.
Prevention and crisis resources, and best practices for professionals.

Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center (MAARC)

Call 1-844-880-1574
Report suspected maltreatment of a vulnerable adult.
If this is an emergency, call 911 first.

MN Office of the Ombudsman for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities (OMHDD)

For concerns or complaints about the actions of an agency, facility, or program. This could be a person-specific or a system-wide concern.
Call 1-800-657-3506.

Arc Guide to Victimization and Abuse PDF

For more information or advocacy services, contact The Arc Minnesota at 833.450.1494 or visit www.arcminnesota.org. (Please note: This document is not legal advice. No information should replace the advice of an attorney.)