Sexual Abuse Survivors With Disabilities
Nationwide Law Firm Taking Cases Involving Disability and Sexual Assault
Sexual assault is a serious issue in the United States and disproportionately affects individuals with disabilities or special needs. Sexual abuse survivors with disabilities may have legal options to hold their perpetrators and other responsible parties accountable.
If your loved one has a physical or cognitive disability and sexual assault or abuse has impacted his or her life, discuss the situation with an experienced attorney. You may have legal options for bringing justice to your claims. The experienced and compassionate attorneys at Grant & Eisenhofer P.A. can help you understand your rights. Review the information below and contact our firm for a free consultation.
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Disability and Sexual Assault Statistics
Adults and children with intellectual or physical disabilities experience sexual assault and/or abuse at higher rates than those without disabilities. Below, we highlight disability and sexual assault statistics:
- Sexual assault and abuse of people with intellectual disabilities occur at a rate greater than seven times of those without special needs.
- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated two out of five female victims of rape were disabled at the time of the incident.
- The rate of rape and sexual assault against women with intellectual disabilities is 12 times higher than those without special needs.
- A Bureau of Justice Statistics survey conducted during a 5-year aggregate period from 2011 to 2015, found that individuals with disabilities ages 12 to 15 had the highest rate of violent victimization among all age groups.
Warning Signs of Sexual Abuse Among People With Disabilities
In many cases, sexual assault goes unnoticed or unreported. This type of assault is underreported largely because sexual assault survivors do not feel they will be believed or do not feel safe enough to talk about what happened. If you suspect a loved one is a victim of sexual abuse, you may have noticed these warning signs:
- Physical Warning Signs. According to The Arc, physical warning signs may include cuts, bleeding, bruising and pain in the genital areas.
- Behavioral Warning Signs. Survivors of sexual assault may experience a change in behavior after an assault. Behavioral warning signs may include signs of depression, self-destructive behavior, inability to focus and irritability.
For more information on physical and behavioral warning signs, see our resource here.
Bringing Justice to Survivors of Sexual Assault
If you believe you or a loved one has been sexually assaulted and wish to pursue a civil case against a sexual assault perpetrator, seek the help of an attorney with experience handling these cases. Experienced lawyers at Grant & Eisenhofer P.A. take cases nationwide involving disability and sexual assault.
Request a Free Consultation With Our Legal Team
If your loved one is a sexual assault survivor who has an intellectual or physical disability, discuss your situation with our legal team. An experienced attorney with our firm can review your situation and help you understand your legal options.
To learn more about our attorneys and how we help, call (855) 244-2031 or contact us online for a free consultation.