Sexual Abuse of People with Disabilities

Consent is crucial when any person engages in sexual activity, but it plays an even bigger, and more complicated role when someone has a disability.

 

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What Consent Looks Like

The laws vary by state and situation, but you don’t have to be a legal expert to understand how consent plays out in real life.  

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Practicing Active Bystander Intervention

When you see something that doesn’t seem right, there are simple ways to step in and help a friend.

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Evaluating Caregivers

There are steps you can take to evaluate caregivers, such as babysitters or nursing homes, to reduce the risk of something happening to your loved one.

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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

After a traumatic event, it is typical to have feelings of anxiety, stress, or fear, making it difficult to adjust or cope for some time afterwards.

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How Can Therapy Help?

If you decide to seek support from a therapist after sexual assault or abuse, you may have some questions. That’s perfectly normal. Working with a therapist can help you deal with some of the challenges you may be facing.

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Flashbacks

During a flashback, memories of past traumas feel as if they are taking place in the current moment.

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Depression

There are many emotional and psychological reactions that victims of rape and sexual assault can experience. One of the most common of these is depression.

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Military Sexual Trauma

Military Sexual Trauma, or MST, is the term used by the Department of Veteran Affairs to describe the effects of sexual violence experienced by a military Service member.

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Flashbacks

During a flashback, memories of past traumas feel as if they are taking place in the current moment.

Read More

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

After a traumatic event, it is typical to have feelings of anxiety, stress, or fear, making it difficult to adjust or cope for some time afterwards.

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Dissociation

Dissociation is one of the many defense mechanisms the brain can use to cope with the trauma of sexual violence.

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Receiving Medical Attention

After sexual assault, a medical exam can check for help check for injuries, even those you may not be able to see.

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What Is a Sexual Assault Forensic Exam?

During a sexual assault forensic exam, a trained healthcare professional can collect DNA evidence from your body, clothes, and other personal belongings.

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Sexually Transmitted Infections

A sexually transmitted infection (STI) is a bacterial or viral infection passed from one person to another through vaginal, anal, or oral contact.

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Crime Victim Compensation

If you decide to report the crime and work with law enforcement, you may be able to access financial compensation from a state agency to help cover some of the costs associated with the crime.

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Eating Disorders

Sexual violence can affect survivors in many ways, including perceptions of the body and feelings of control.

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Receiving Medical Attention

After sexual assault, a medical exam can check for help check for injuries, even those you may not be able to see.

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Self-Care After Trauma

Whether it happened recently or years ago, self care can help you cope with the short- and long-term effects of a trauma like sexual assault.

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Self-Harm

Deliberate self-harm, or self-injury, is when a person inflicts physical harm on himself or herself, usually in secret. 

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Substance Abuse

If you are concerned that you’re using substances in a way that could be harmful to your health or have concerns for someone you care about, consider learning more about the warning signs and places to find support.

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How Can Therapy Help?

If you decide to seek support from a therapist after sexual assault or abuse, you may have some questions. That’s perfectly normal. Working with a therapist can help you deal with some of the challenges you may be facing.

Read More

Self-Care After Trauma

Whether it happened recently or years ago, self care can help you cope with the short- and long-term effects of a trauma like sexual assault.

Read More

Depression

There are many emotional and psychological reactions that victims of rape and sexual assault can experience. One of the most common of these is depression.

Read More

Sleep Disorders

Symptoms of sleep disorders can include trouble falling or staying asleep, sleeping at unusual times of day, or sleeping for longer or shorter than usual.

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Receiving Medical Attention

After sexual assault, a medical exam can check for help check for injuries, even those you may not be able to see.

Read More

Self-Care After Trauma

Whether it happened recently or years ago, self care can help you cope with the short- and long-term effects of a trauma like sexual assault.

Read More

Help Someone You Care About

There are many ways that you can help a friend or family member who has been affected by sexual violence.

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Self-Harm

Deliberate self-harm, or self-injury, is when a person inflicts physical harm on himself or herself, usually in secret. 

Related Content

Depression

There are many emotional and psychological reactions that victims of rape and sexual assault can experience. One of the most common of these is depression.

Read More

How Can Therapy Help?

If you decide to seek support from a therapist after sexual assault or abuse, you may have some questions. That’s perfectly normal. Working with a therapist can help you deal with some of the challenges you may be facing.

Read More

Self-Care After Trauma

Whether it happened recently or years ago, self care can help you cope with the short- and long-term effects of a trauma like sexual assault.

Read More

About the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline

Chat one-on-one with a support specialist, any time 24/7. The Online Hotline is confidential and anonymous. RAINN does not log IP addresses or save chat transcripts. 

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