2.9 How is disability linked to vulnerability?
What research findings reveal
Research by the World Health Organisation (Bellis et al., 2012) found that children with disability were almost:
- 4 times more likely to experience physical violence.
- 3 times more likely to experience sexual violence.
The presence of multiple conditions or impairments increases the risk of abuse and neglect.
Why might some people with disability be more vulnerable to abuse?
Take a moment to list reasons why people with disability might be more vulnerable.
Answer
Here are some reasons we came up with – how does this compare to your list?
| Communication difficulties may mean some people can’t easily tell others they are being abused. |
| People with disability may be more isolated – making it easier for them to be targeted for abuse. |
| People with disability may be dependent on others for practical assistance in daily living, including intimate activities like going to the toilet. |
| People with intellectual disabilities may have an impaired capacity to resist, avoid, or understand abuse. |
| People with disability may be relatively powerless – making them an easy target for abusers. |
The social model of disability helps you to reduce vulnerability
The social model of disability was developed by people with disability to change the way we all view the world. It recognises that people are disabled by the barriers they face in society, and not by their impairment.
Barriers can be physical, like buildings not having an accessible entrance for wheelchair users, or they can be caused by people's attitudes, like assuming people with disability can't speak for themselves. The social model helps you recognise barriers so that you can remove them.
In order to address the additional vulnerability people with disability may have, you need to start by recognising that the barriers they face in society can be replicated in sport. Identifying and addressing their barriers can help reduce vulnerability.
2.8 People with disability
