Abstract

Domestic violence is encountered by disabled women more frequently than non-disabled women, yet disabled women are less likely to receive appropriate services, and there has been little research on their experiences and how this problem can be addressed.

This book, drawing on the first UK national study of disabled women who have suffered domestic violence, highlights the experiences of these women, the nature of the violence perpetrated against them, and the seriousness and range of its impacts. The book draws attention to the gaps in services for disabled women and discusses how professional responses should be developed and improved, pointing to current examples of good practice. It includes first-hand accounts from disabled women and includes contributions from leading disabled women activists.

This book will be important reading for students, practitioners, policymakers and academics in the fields of disability and domestic violence.

...this book is a valuable and timely examination of disabled women's experience of domestic violence.
Disability & Society
Ravi K. Thiara is Principal Research Fellow, University of Warwick, UK. She has conducted extensive research in the UK and elsewhere and written widely on violence against women. Gill Hague is Professor of Violence Against Women Studies, University of Bristol, UK, and a founder member of the Centre for Gender and Violence Research, University of Bristol. She has conducted key research nationally and internationally, and has worked on gender violence for nearly 40 years, publishing extensively in the field. Ruth Bashall is a prominent activist and consultant on disability issues and continues to be involved in organisations of disabled people. Brenda Ellis is a long standing campaigner for disabled women's rights and issues including domestic violence. Audrey Mullender is Principal of Ruskin College, Oxford, UK. Her distinguished research career has focused on domestic violence, post-adoption issues for birth relatives and groupwork theory.
Disabled women face multiple challenges and discrimination, both in their experiences of domestic and sexual violence, and in gaining access to appropriate services….I hope this book will be a wake-up call for professionals and activists in all relevant statutory and voluntary agencies to review our own policy approaches and ensure that in all our local consultations and strategic planning, the findings and messages in this book, and the voices of disabled women survivors, are heard.
From the Foreword by Nicola Harwin, Chief Executive, Women's Aid