July marks the celebration of Disability Pride Month, a time to honor the history, achievements, and lived experiences of the disabled community. Originally established (right here in Boston!) to commemorate the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in July 1990, this month serves as a reminder to listen to, learn from, and center disabled voices.
While it took far too long for federal laws to protect disabled Americans, the roots of this movement grew right here in Massachusetts. In the 1840s, visionary advocates like Dorothea Dix and Samuel Gridley Howe launched pioneering efforts within the state legislature to transform and improve living conditions for individuals with mental, intellectual, and cognitive disabilities. In fact, driven by a deep sense of moral duty, Dix famously set aside traditional social expectations of what was considered “womanly” to personally investigate the harrowing conditions inside the state’s jails and almshouses of MA. Her groundbreaking 1843 address to local lawmakers exposed systemic neglect, forcing the Commonwealth to take public accountability and sparking a national movement for institutional reform.
At the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC), our mission is to end sexual violence and support all survivors on their healing journeys. Authentic survivor support requires an intersectional approach. We cannot effectively address sexual violence without acknowledging the stark, often silent, epidemic of sexual assault impacting individuals with disabilities.
The intersection of disability and sexual violence has been understudied and overlooked, however, recent data highlights a critical crisis that demands our collective attention and action:
- According to a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, women with any type of disability are nearly twice as likely to experience sexual violence in their lifetime compared to nondisabled women (~30% vs. 16.9%).
- The risk is even higher for individuals with intersectional or multiple disabilities. The same study notes that women with multiple disabilities experience the highest prevalence of lifetime sexual violence at 42.1%.
- A comprehensive meta-analysis featured in Trauma, Violence, & Abuse confirms that individuals with disabilities face a significantly higher overall risk of sexual victimization, with an odds ratio of 2.27 compared to their nondisabled peers.
Why Is the Risk So High? As highlighted by the Center for American Progress, these disproportionately high rates are not a reflection of a survivor’s disability itself, but rather the systemic vulnerabilities and barriers created by society. These include:
- An increased reliance on caregivers or personal care attendants for daily needs.
- Communication barriers that can complicate or hinder the immediate disclosure of abuse.
- Systemic exclusion from comprehensive school-based sexual education and awareness of sexual rights.
- Harmful social stereotypes that falsely view disabled individuals as asexual, hypersexual, or “perpetual children,” which can lead to their experiences being dismissed or minimized by authority figures.
Disability pride is about claiming visibility, autonomy, and the right to live safely and authentically. This Disability Pride Month, BARCC recommits to leaning into the vital conversations happening at the intersection of disability rights and sexual violence advocacy. Healing cannot happen in isolation, and it cannot happen behind inaccessible doors.
To all disabled survivors: You deserve care that honors your identity and respects your needs. We see you, we believe you, and you are not alone.
If you or someone you know has been impacted by sexual violence, BARCC is here for you. Reach out to our free, confidential 24/7 hotline at 800-841-8371 or connect with us via our web chat barcc.org/chat.
