Sexual abuse and intellectual disability

Research published from 2000 to 2020 illustrates increased prevalence rates of sexual violence against people with intellectual disabilities, compared to the general population.^:61 The World Health Organization (WHO) funded a study which concluded that 15% of the adult population worldwide in 2012 had a disability, putting them at increased risk of physical, sexual, and intimate partner violence. Of that 15%, 6.1% had intellectual disability with 5.5% experiencing sexual violence. In another 2012 report, the WHO found that worldwide, children with intellectual disabilities experienced a 4.6 times greater risk of sexual violence than those without disability.

In the United States, the Bureau of Justice Statistics reported in the National Crime Victimization Survey the rate of sexual violence for those with an intellectual disability is five times higher than for those without any disability. Both men and women with intellectual disabilities experience sexual violence that includes rape, sexual coercion without physical force, and sexual experiences without physical contact. Perpetrators of sexual violence are not only strangers but can be caregivers, acquaintances, and intimate partners. The perpetrator of the assault often determines if the crime will be reported.

While people with intellectual disabilities experience sexual violence in many of the same ways as the general population,^:73 those with intellectual disability may be more vulnerable to sexual violence because of their dependence on others for economic support, personal care, and support with tasks associated with daily living such as bathing and eating. They often encounter additional issues related to their disability and the environments in which they live. These additional issues can include questions around the ability to consent to sexual activities, differential treatment before the law and restricted access to proper support and recovery services. Societal attitudes and beliefs about the sexuality of those with intellectual disabilities and the validity or accuracy of their claims of abuse are additional risk factors. Finally, racial and ethnic discrimination with disability discrimination increase the risk of sexual violence.