Disabled Americans Are at a Greater Risk for Victimization

The Bureau of Justice recently released a report known as the National Crime Victimization Survey, which describes a higher rate of victimization for the disabled in our nation when compared to those who are not disabled.

This casts a dark shadow on the condition of the United States of America. Victimization of any kind is always horrific, but how much more-so when those victims are already dealing with disabilities. The report stated that the more disabled an individual is, the greater the likelihood of victimization.

The study showed statistics on crimes such as rape, sexual assault, armed robbery, aggravated assault and simple assault.

This report shows that approximately 34% of crimes committed against both the disabled and those who are not, were violent in nature, such as rape, sexual assault, robbery or aggravated assault.

The U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey defines "disability" as "long lasting sensory, physical, mental or emotional conditions that make it difficult for a person to perform daily living activities". These disabilities are grouped by The National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) as sensory (blindness, deafness or severe impairment of sight or hearing), physical (any condition that significantly limits walking, climbing stairs, lifting, reaching or carrying), cognitive function (physical, mental or emotional limitations that make learning, remembering or concentrating difficult), self-care (limitations that make bathing, dressing and moving around the home difficult), go-outside-the home (limitations that make it difficult to go outside the home to shop or visit a doctor), and employment (a physical, mental or emotional limitation that makes it difficult to go outside the home to work).

The survey found young people ages 12 to 19 with disabilities were victimized at nearly twice the rate as those without disabilities in the same age group and that more than half of the crimes against the disabled happened to those with more than one disability.

This is, indeed a very sad commentary on the conditions within our own country. It is shameful when people who are already struggling due to physical, mental or emotional problems are considered targets by those who seek to do harm.

Statistics cause us to look more closely at ourselves, and serve as a mirror so we can clearly see the truth. What we choose to do to help change the image is up to each of us. Clearly we all need to do more to help provide better protection for the weaker members of our society.

Simple acts such as staying in touch with friends and family members who suffer from disabilities can go a long ways toward helping them feel safer. Helping those we meet on the street who are disabled is an act of kindness that we can each accomplish without much difficulty. Sometimes just walking alongside someone until they are safely at their door helps tremendously, as long as it is not done in a threatening or intruding manner. Any person with disabilities who has already been victimized may not want your help, so please be sensitive to their needs first and foremost.

Source:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/capd07.pdf

http://www.protect.org/Newswire/National/New-Report-Crime-Against-People-with-Disabilities.html