GITNUXREPORT 2026

Disability Abuse Statistics

Disabled people face alarmingly high and vastly underreported rates of violence and abuse.

Min-ji Park

Research Analyst focused on sustainability and consumer trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking · Reputable sources · Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

52% of victims suffer long-term PTSD

Statistic 2

30% increased mortality risk post-abuse for disabled

Statistic 3

Only 10% of disability abuse cases reported to authorities

Statistic 4

75% of reports lead to no prosecution

Statistic 5

Healthcare costs double for abused disabled patients

Statistic 6

40% drop in quality of life scores post-abuse

Statistic 7

Suicide risk 3x higher among abused disabled youth

Statistic 8

25% require long-term care after severe abuse

Statistic 9

Reporting hotlines receive 20% more calls post-awareness campaigns

Statistic 10

Conviction rates under 5% for disability abuse crimes

Statistic 11

35% of disabled survivors experience homelessness

Statistic 12

Depression rates 50% post-abuse

Statistic 13

20% permanent disability worsening

Statistic 14

Underreporting 90% in institutions

Statistic 15

Shelter access denied to 40% disabled

Statistic 16

Therapy uptake only 15% among survivors

Statistic 17

Economic loss $5.2B annually US

Statistic 18

Recidivism 35% for unreported cases

Statistic 19

Policy changes reduce abuse by 15%

Statistic 20

Awareness training cuts incidents 25%

Statistic 21

Legal aid access improves outcomes 30%

Statistic 22

Family members perpetrate 45% of abuse against disabled relatives

Statistic 23

Caregivers responsible for 30% of institutional abuse

Statistic 24

Intimate partners commit 40% of violence against disabled women

Statistic 25

Staff in residential facilities: 25% abuse perpetrators

Statistic 26

Acquaintances perpetrate 20% of sexual assaults

Statistic 27

Male perpetrators in 70% of physical abuse cases

Statistic 28

15% self-reported by disabled perpetrators with disabilities

Statistic 29

Neighbors/friends: 10% of financial abuse

Statistic 30

Professional carers: 18% neglect incidents

Statistic 31

Spouses 50% of perpetrators

Statistic 32

Siblings 12% abuse cases

Statistic 33

Volunteers 5% in community programs

Statistic 34

Females perpetrate 30% emotional abuse

Statistic 35

Ex-partners 15% post-separation violence

Statistic 36

Agency staff turnover links to 22% abuse rise

Statistic 37

Disabled-on-disabled 8%

Statistic 38

Strangers 7% sexual abuse

Statistic 39

Unpaid carers 28%

Statistic 40

Approximately 1 in 4 adults with disabilities experience abuse annually

Statistic 41

People with disabilities are 4 times more likely to experience violence than those without

Statistic 42

40% of women with disabilities report intimate partner violence

Statistic 43

In the US, 12.7% of disabled adults experienced contact sexual violence

Statistic 44

UK statistics show 1 in 2 disabled children experience abuse

Statistic 45

59% of disabled women in Europe face physical or sexual violence

Statistic 46

In Australia, 23% of disabled people experienced abuse in the past year

Statistic 47

70% lifetime prevalence of abuse among intellectually disabled women

Statistic 48

32% of disabled adults in care homes report abuse

Statistic 49

Canada reports 43% of disabled women experience violence

Statistic 50

27% of disabled adults experience physical abuse

Statistic 51

Sexual violence lifetime risk 2x higher for disabled

Statistic 52

50% of abuse in group homes unreported

Statistic 53

Indigenous disabled women 2.5x abuse rate

Statistic 54

18% annual emotional abuse rate

Statistic 55

Pandemic increased abuse by 20% for disabled

Statistic 56

Financial abuse up 12% in disabled seniors

Statistic 57

66% of developmentally disabled abused by caregivers

Statistic 58

Verbal abuse in 80% of daily interactions for some

Statistic 59

Restraint abuse 15% in mental health facilities

Statistic 60

Physical abuse accounts for 50% of reported disability abuse cases

Statistic 61

Sexual abuse comprises 25% of incidents against disabled persons

Statistic 62

Emotional abuse reported in 60% of disability abuse surveys

Statistic 63

Financial exploitation affects 15% of disabled adults annually

Statistic 64

Neglect is the most common form at 40% in institutional settings

Statistic 65

Verbal abuse experienced by 75% of disabled care home residents

Statistic 66

Physical restraint used abusively in 20% of cases

Statistic 67

Sexual exploitation in 10% of disability service reports

Statistic 68

Medication misuse as abuse in 8% of incidents

Statistic 69

Isolation tactics in 35% of emotional abuse cases

Statistic 70

Sexual abuse 30% higher in learning disabilities

Statistic 71

Neglect 55% in home care services

Statistic 72

Psychological abuse 65% lifetime

Statistic 73

Property damage as abuse 5%

Statistic 74

Overmedication 12% of cases

Statistic 75

Bullying 70% among disabled students

Statistic 76

Coercive control 40% in relationships

Statistic 77

Hygiene neglect 25%

Statistic 78

Food deprivation 10%

Statistic 79

61% of victims are women with disabilities

Statistic 80

Children with disabilities 3.7 times more likely to be abused

Statistic 81

Intellectual disabilities highest risk group at 49% prevalence

Statistic 82

Elderly disabled over 65: 14.1% annual abuse rate

Statistic 83

Rural disabled adults 1.5x higher abuse rates

Statistic 84

Autistic individuals face 2-3x sexual abuse risk

Statistic 85

Mobility impaired report higher physical abuse at 28%

Statistic 86

Mental health disabled: 50% lifetime violence exposure

Statistic 87

Learning disabled youth: 6x maltreatment risk

Statistic 88

Visual impairments correlate with 20% higher neglect

Statistic 89

Deaf victims 50% sexual assault rate

Statistic 90

ADHD children 2x abuse risk

Statistic 91

Wheelchair users 35% physical violence

Statistic 92

Bipolar disorder 45% violence exposure

Statistic 93

Down syndrome adults 40% maltreatment

Statistic 94

Low-income disabled 1.8x risk

Statistic 95

LGBTQ+ disabled 2x intimate violence

Statistic 96

TBI survivors 60% revictimization

Statistic 97

CP patients 25% higher neglect

1/97

Sources

Trusted by 500+ publications

+497

Behind the sobering statistics that reveal people with disabilities are four times more likely to experience violence lies a hidden crisis of abuse that society can no longer afford to ignore.

Key Takeaways

Approximately 1 in 4 adults with disabilities experience abuse annually
People with disabilities are 4 times more likely to experience violence than those without
40% of women with disabilities report intimate partner violence
Physical abuse accounts for 50% of reported disability abuse cases
Sexual abuse comprises 25% of incidents against disabled persons
Emotional abuse reported in 60% of disability abuse surveys
61% of victims are women with disabilities
Children with disabilities 3.7 times more likely to be abused
Intellectual disabilities highest risk group at 49% prevalence
Family members perpetrate 45% of abuse against disabled relatives
Caregivers responsible for 30% of institutional abuse
Intimate partners commit 40% of violence against disabled women
52% of victims suffer long-term PTSD
30% increased mortality risk post-abuse for disabled
Only 10% of disability abuse cases reported to authorities

Disabled people face alarmingly high and vastly underreported rates of violence and abuse.

Outcomes and Responses

52% of victims suffer long-term PTSD
30% increased mortality risk post-abuse for disabled
Only 10% of disability abuse cases reported to authorities
75% of reports lead to no prosecution
Healthcare costs double for abused disabled patients
40% drop in quality of life scores post-abuse
Suicide risk 3x higher among abused disabled youth
25% require long-term care after severe abuse
Reporting hotlines receive 20% more calls post-awareness campaigns
Conviction rates under 5% for disability abuse crimes
35% of disabled survivors experience homelessness
Depression rates 50% post-abuse
20% permanent disability worsening
Underreporting 90% in institutions
Shelter access denied to 40% disabled
Therapy uptake only 15% among survivors
Economic loss $5.2B annually US
Recidivism 35% for unreported cases
Policy changes reduce abuse by 15%
Awareness training cuts incidents 25%
Legal aid access improves outcomes 30%

Outcomes and Responses Interpretation

This is the brutal math of disability abuse: a system where justice is a 5% gamble, survivors are routinely bankrupted in health, home, and hope, yet the clearest proof we have is that even the smallest dose of awareness or aid actually begins to stem the violence we've chosen for so long to ignore.

Perpetrator Characteristics

Family members perpetrate 45% of abuse against disabled relatives
Caregivers responsible for 30% of institutional abuse
Intimate partners commit 40% of violence against disabled women
Staff in residential facilities: 25% abuse perpetrators
Acquaintances perpetrate 20% of sexual assaults
Male perpetrators in 70% of physical abuse cases
15% self-reported by disabled perpetrators with disabilities
Neighbors/friends: 10% of financial abuse
Professional carers: 18% neglect incidents
Spouses 50% of perpetrators
Siblings 12% abuse cases
Volunteers 5% in community programs
Females perpetrate 30% emotional abuse
Ex-partners 15% post-separation violence
Agency staff turnover links to 22% abuse rise
Disabled-on-disabled 8%
Strangers 7% sexual abuse
Unpaid carers 28%

Perpetrator Characteristics Interpretation

This harrowing mosaic of statistics paints a grim portrait of a disabled person's greatest vulnerability: a world where the very people tasked with care and closeness—family, partners, and caregivers—are most often the architects of their betrayal.

Prevalence and Incidence

Approximately 1 in 4 adults with disabilities experience abuse annually
People with disabilities are 4 times more likely to experience violence than those without
40% of women with disabilities report intimate partner violence
In the US, 12.7% of disabled adults experienced contact sexual violence
UK statistics show 1 in 2 disabled children experience abuse
59% of disabled women in Europe face physical or sexual violence
In Australia, 23% of disabled people experienced abuse in the past year
70% lifetime prevalence of abuse among intellectually disabled women
32% of disabled adults in care homes report abuse
Canada reports 43% of disabled women experience violence
27% of disabled adults experience physical abuse
Sexual violence lifetime risk 2x higher for disabled
50% of abuse in group homes unreported
Indigenous disabled women 2.5x abuse rate
18% annual emotional abuse rate
Pandemic increased abuse by 20% for disabled
Financial abuse up 12% in disabled seniors
66% of developmentally disabled abused by caregivers
Verbal abuse in 80% of daily interactions for some
Restraint abuse 15% in mental health facilities

Prevalence and Incidence Interpretation

These aren't just cold statistics; they're a screaming indictment of a world that systematically fails to protect its most vulnerable, turning daily life into a minefield of predation and neglect.

Types of Abuse

Physical abuse accounts for 50% of reported disability abuse cases
Sexual abuse comprises 25% of incidents against disabled persons
Emotional abuse reported in 60% of disability abuse surveys
Financial exploitation affects 15% of disabled adults annually
Neglect is the most common form at 40% in institutional settings
Verbal abuse experienced by 75% of disabled care home residents
Physical restraint used abusively in 20% of cases
Sexual exploitation in 10% of disability service reports
Medication misuse as abuse in 8% of incidents
Isolation tactics in 35% of emotional abuse cases
Sexual abuse 30% higher in learning disabilities
Neglect 55% in home care services
Psychological abuse 65% lifetime
Property damage as abuse 5%
Overmedication 12% of cases
Bullying 70% among disabled students
Coercive control 40% in relationships
Hygiene neglect 25%
Food deprivation 10%

Types of Abuse Interpretation

These numbers are not mere statistics but a damning inventory of betrayals, revealing a world where the very places and people meant to be safe havens are often the most proficient in the art of cruelty.

Victim Characteristics

61% of victims are women with disabilities
Children with disabilities 3.7 times more likely to be abused
Intellectual disabilities highest risk group at 49% prevalence
Elderly disabled over 65: 14.1% annual abuse rate
Rural disabled adults 1.5x higher abuse rates
Autistic individuals face 2-3x sexual abuse risk
Mobility impaired report higher physical abuse at 28%
Mental health disabled: 50% lifetime violence exposure
Learning disabled youth: 6x maltreatment risk
Visual impairments correlate with 20% higher neglect
Deaf victims 50% sexual assault rate
ADHD children 2x abuse risk
Wheelchair users 35% physical violence
Bipolar disorder 45% violence exposure
Down syndrome adults 40% maltreatment
Low-income disabled 1.8x risk
LGBTQ+ disabled 2x intimate violence
TBI survivors 60% revictimization
CP patients 25% higher neglect

Victim Characteristics Interpretation

This stark data paints a portrait where vulnerability is not a personal failing but a target, systematically painted on the bodies and lives of disabled people across every age, impairment, and community.

Sources & References

Logos provided by Logo.dev