Women with disabilities, especially those who are considered to be vulnerable, can be significantly impacted by domestic abuse. That experience is likely to be severe, long-lasting and include particular forms of abuse, such as ridiculing an impairment or withholding personal care.

Their abuser can be the person who has taken on the role of carer and advocate and therefore can silence their victim.

The perpetrator may financially benefit from this role and therefore resist external interference. The perpetrator, but more importantly the victim, also knows there is limited alternatives in the state should the perpetrator remove themselves from the role or the victim look for somewhere else to go.  As a result disabled women may have increased risk factors for domestic abuse related to their impairment, reliance and isolation, or wider risk factors, including exclusion from education, employment and income. www.disabledwomenireland.org  /  www.gov.uk