Survivors with Disabilities
Most people aren't aware that sexual assaults against people with physical, visual, mental or emotional disabilities are very common. This is because people who commit these assaults perceive people with disabilities as easy targets, and they do frequently get away with these crimes. The misconception abounds that people who use wheelchairs, or who may be mentally disabled, have no sexual feelings or even concern about such matters, therefore, it's OK to take advantage of them. It's also very possible you know the person who abused you. Most of the time, the assailant is someone the survivor knows, or who has some role in her/his care. You may have even become disabled, or further disabled, because of the abuse.
It's important for you to know that no one has the right to assault you. You might feel powerless to do something about what has or is happening, because this person has control of your care, even of your finances. Regardless of that person's role in your life, you still have the right to file a complaint and seek redress.
You may find, as you may have prior to your assault, that people who are supposed to be "helping" you treat you as being helpless, or unable to understand what happened. They may ignore your needs, acting as though they know what is best for you. Others may feel that you won't be effective in helping apprehend your assailant. All these ideas are misconceptions about people with disabilities, not facts. You have the right to be treated with the same care and concern that able-bodied survivors do. It is OK to ask a companion from George Mason University Sexual Assault Services to help you.
The assault may make you feel very vulnerable. You may want to seek emotional support and other kinds of assistance from local agencies which advocate for persons with disabilities. It might be helpful to ask the agency if there is a staff member with experience in working with sexual assault issues; because this is rarely the case, you may decide to work with two advocates; a sexual assault companion and a disabilities advocate. You may also want to learn self-defense; regardless of your disability, there are techniques, including assertiveness and physical techniques modified to your needs, which you may find empowering.
Survivors Who Are Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing
Survivors who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing face very different barriers than those with other disabilities. The most significant barrier is communication accessibility. You may have experienced a tendency by people to ignore you because they don't know how to deal with your deafness. The hearing world may feel very separate from your own; you may have had negative experiences in the past with doctors, police, or counselors, or crisis lines which claim to be TTY-accessible, but in fact, are not.
Because so much of modern knowledge comes from the spoken word, whether through the media or casual conversation, information about rape, sexual abuse, battering and harassment has only recently been discussed in the Deaf community. If you are not part of this community, you may still feel uninformed about these issues. More and more services are addressing the needs of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing survivors; some have deaf advocates and hotline counselors. However, most "helping" services still view deafness as a medical problem to be cured, not a culture with its own proud traditions and language.
If you are unaware of your rights as a Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing consumer, that information is available. Police, hospitals, and Commonwealth's attorneys are all required by law to provide qualified sign- language interpreters and other auxiliary aids as needed. You have the right to request a qualified sign-language or oral interpreter, if you need one. Miscommunication is all-too easy in these situations, so try to keep as much control as you can. It might also be helpful to have an advocate who can be your "reality checker" if you feel something has gone wrong. Hearing or Deaf, what is important is that the advocate be knowledgeable about the rights of survivors.
It's also possible that you will have to travel some distance to find the kind of counseling that you feel is right for you, particularly if you seek a professional counselor who is Deaf, or one who is highly skilled in sign- language. Advocates from George Mason University Sexual Assault Services, can try to help you find the appropriate resource.
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