Sexual assault can affect anyone — but for people with disabilities, the risk is significantly higher. At the same time, the path to safety, support and justice is often harder to reach.
People with disabilities, particularly women and individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, experience sexual assault at much higher rates than the general population. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, individuals with intellectual disabilities are sexually assaulted at rates seven times higher than those without disabilities【1】.
For these survivors, getting help often depends on one key question: Is the service accessible? That is where the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) plays a vital role.
Why the Risk Is Higher
People with disabilities live full, independent lives and contribute meaningfully to their communities. But certain systemic and environmental factors can increase the risk of sexual assault. These factors may include limited access to transportation, communication barriers, and a lack of clear, accessible information about rights, relationships, or reporting options.
Many individuals may live in group settings or rely on others for support with daily needs. In these situations, privacy, boundaries, and control can be compromised if safeguards are not in place. Social isolation, stigma, and the fear of not being believed can also make it harder for survivors with disabilities to report abuse or seek help.
These circumstances do not define people with disabilities, but they reflect real barriers that must be addressed to ensure everyone has equal access to safety and support.
Key Supports and Services Survivors May Need
Survivors of sexual assault often seek help from a range of sources. This may include reporting to law enforcement, receiving medical care, participating in investigations or court proceedings, and accessing supportive services such as counseling, peer support groups and emergency housing. Communication assistance — including interpreters or alternative formats — may also be needed throughout the process.
For survivors with disabilities, each of these steps must be accessible and inclusive.
How the ADA Connects
The Americans with Disabilities Act is a landmark civil rights law that protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination in everyday life. It applies to state and local governments under Title II, and to private businesses open to the public — such as hospitals, counseling centers, domestic violence shelters, courts and police departments — under Title III【2】.
Although the ADA is not a criminal or abuse-specific law, it plays a vital role in making sure survivors with disabilities can access the services, supports, and systems they may rely on for safety and recovery.
Key areas where the ADA helps include:
Physical access
- Medical facilities, shelters, and crisis centers must be accessible to people with mobility disabilities.
- Entryways, restrooms, sleeping areas, and service spaces must not present physical barriers.
Effective communication
- Survivors who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or have speech disabilities must be provided with communication aids such as interpreters, captioning, or materials in alternative formats.
- This access is vital when reporting to the police, seeking medical care, participating in court, or accessing support services.
Modification of policies and procedures
- Programs must be willing to adjust their usual policies and practices when needed to avoid discrimination.
- For example, a shelter with a “no pets” policy must allow individuals who use service animals to stay.
- Other modifications might include changing intake processes or adjusting rules to meet a survivor’s access needs.
ADA supports equal opportunity and full participation, which are essential for survivors seeking safety, support, and justice.
Barriers Still Exist
Despite legal protections under the ADA, many survivors with disabilities still face obstacles. Shelters may not be fully accessible. Staff may lack training in how to communicate with individuals with cognitive or sensory disabilities. Support services and programs may unknowingly turn away survivors who need service animals or alternative communication support.
When people think of sexual assault, they don't think of people with disabilities—both because of misconceptions surrounding sexual assault and those surrounding disability. These barriers can leave survivors without a safe place to go or a voice in the process.
Why It Matters
For survivors with disabilities, the right to report abuse, receive support, and seek justice should not depend on whether a building has a ramp, or a shelter has an interpreter. When someone is in a crisis, access matters — and it matters most in those moments.
The ADA does not solve every issue. It can help open doors that never should have been closed in the first place. With greater awareness, we can help make sure every survivor — with or without a disability — are seen, heard, and supported.
By Tina Bennett, RMADAC Advisory Committee member and ADA & Accessibility Coordinator with Wyoming Independent Living. Tina has 30+ years’ experience in disability services, as well as a background in domestic violence related supports.