Persons with activity limitations victims of spousal violence

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As was seen previously, the greater vulnerability and dependence of persons with disabilities increases their risk of being victims of violence by someone they know. For the same reasons, there is also a higher risk of persons with disabilities experiencing spousal violence (Brownridge, 2006, Cohen et al., 2006; Hassouneh-Philips and McNeff; 2005, Health Canada, 2004, 1993; OVC, 2002; Curry et al., 2001; Nosek et al., 2001). Persons with disabilities were between 50 and 100 percent more likely than those without disabilities to have experienced violence by a spouse (Chart 2).

Chart 2 Proportion of persons who experienced abuse or violence by a spouse

Moreover, as Brownridge (2006) noted, persons with disabilities experienced more severe forms of spousal violence than those without disabilities. Results from the General Social Survery (GSS) show that persons with activity limitations were 2 to 3 times more likely to have been hit with an object, beaten, choked or have their spouse use or threaten to use a gun or knife against them.

A number of previous studies have noted that persons with disabilities who were victims of spousal violence were less likely to report the incident to the police, particularly since they might depend on their spouse financially, for physical or medical assistance or for child care (Health Canada, 2004, 1993; Curry et al., 2001). Also, persons with disabilities have been found to be less likely to use support services, often because of accessibility reasons (OVC, 2009; Cantos, 2006; Reid, 2004; Health Canada, 2004, 1993).

Similar to what was found with violent crimes in general, 36% of spousal violence victims with activity limitations reported to the police, compared to 25% of those without limitations.

Results from the 2006 Victim Services Survey (VSS) showed that 24% of victim service agencies in Canada were able to provide services to persons with disabilities. Despite the fact that disabled persons may face certain accessibility problems when seeking support services, the GSS revealed that 45% of victims with activity limitations called upon such services, compared to 32% of victims without limitations.

However, as was mentioned previously, persons with disabilities were more likely to suffer more severe forms of spousal violence. Moreover, among persons who suffered spousal violence, a larger proportion of victims with a disability reported they had been injured (39% versus 30% of victims without limitations), needed medical attention (14% versus 7%), could not attend to their daily activities (31% versus 18%) or feared for their lives (32% versus 21%) because of spousal violence.

Moreover, 12% of victims of spousal violence with activity limitations believed that the incident of spousal violence was not serious enough to report to the police or to seek support services. On the other hand, 27% of victims without limitations did not report an incident to the police because they did not deem it serious enough and 18% did not use support services for that same reason.