Need Help Now?
If you or someone you know is being abused, please reach out to the Assaulted Women’s Helpline, open 24 hours, 7 days a week.
TOLL-FREE 1.866.863.0511
TOLL-FREE TTY 1.866.863.7868
#SAFE (#7233) On your Bell, Rogers, Fido or Telus mobile phone
Indigenous women can also access the Hope For Wellness Helpline to access experienced and culturally competent counsellors: 1.855.242.3310 or the MMIWG support line: 1.844.413.6649.
Violence Against Women with Disabilities
"More than half of women with disabilities have experienced some form of intimate partner violence in their lifetime"
Women with disabilities face violence on two fronts: Gendered violence for being women and disability violence for having a disability. Violence against women with disabilities is further compounded by the barriers these women face when trying to access services and supports to escape. These barriers can include difficulty accessing accessible transportation or services, like shelters.
The video below, while international in perspective, provides a broad overview of the types of barriers and discrimination women with disabilities face.
Links and Resources on Violence Against Women with Disabilities
- Fact Sheet on Women with Disabilities and Violence
- A fact sheet prepared by the DisAbled Women’s Network of Canada.
- Issue 7: Violence Against Women with DisAbilities and Deaf Women
- This is a fantastic resource that discusses ableism, myths surrounding violence against women with disabilities, and how we can learn from women with lived experiences.
- Intimate partner violence: Experiences of women with disabilities in Canada, 2018
- A Stats Canada report outlining the experiences women with disabilities have had with intimate partner violence.
- Violence Against Women With Disabilities
- A blog post by Shelter Movers outlining the the barriers women with disabilities experience when they try to leave abuse.
- Information and resources about brain injury in intimate partner violence
- A list of resources including toolkits, research, and more.
How to Take Action
Get Involved
- May 31 – June 6th is national accessibility week
- Host an accessible event on violence against women with disabilities to raise awareness of this issue
- Attend another organizer’s event during accessibility week
- Use accessibility practices when sharing information about VAW on your social media pages
- Learn about ableism and how it impacts women with disabilities and then teach others.
Activists and Organizations to Follow on Social Media
Instagram
@ disabled_survivors_unite
@womenwithdisabilitiesvic
Twitter
@DAWNRAFHCanada
@djnontario
@DisabilityFili1
@A4AOntario
@CIL_Toronto
Contact your local MP about violence against women in Canada
Things to discuss:
- The government plans to ensure that all services offered to women experiencing violence are accessible – including accessibility accommodations, allowing emotional and service animals in support provision spaces, and supplying accessibility supports.
- The government’s commitment to assisting women with disabilities obtain accessibility supports and tools, which may have been left behind when fleeing violence.
- The government’s commitment and plans for increasing affordable and accessible housing in Canada.
To contact your local MPP or MP please use the links below:
Provincial Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP)
https://www.ola.org/en/members/current
Federal Member of Parliament (MP) by postal code
The Following MPs are working in departments that can make changes or recommendations on this issue:
The Honourable Mike Morrice
Canada Disability Benefit
Hill office
House of commons*
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada K1A 0A6
Phone – 613 995 8913
Fax – 613 996 7329
Email- mike.morrice[at]parl.gc.ca
Website- http://mikemorricemp.ca
Twitter @morricemike
Instagram @morricemike