In 2008, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center partnered with the Victims Rights Law Center, National Sexual Assault Coalition Resource Sharing Project, Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault, University of New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania Community Legal Services to develop and conduct a national survey on housing and sexual violence.  This report provides a summary of key survey findings and policy recommendations.

This online collection was developed by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center to assist communities in developing more effective strategies to address the complex issue of housing and sexual violence. Additional resources, including book titles, articles, reports, and journals can be found by browsing the library, searching our publications or by sending an information request.

Using 2007 National Crime Victimization Survey data, BJS estimates that about one third (34%) of the crimes against persons with or without a disability in 2007 were serious violent crimes (rape/sexual assault, robbery, or aggravated assault). Persons with disabilities were victims of about 47,000 rapes.  Rates of rape and sexual assault were more than twice those for people without disabilities. Youth with a disability ages 12 to 19 experienced violence at nearly twice the rate as those without a disability. People with cognitive disabilities had a higher risk of violent victimization than persons with any other type of disability. Nearly 1 in 5 violent crime victims with a disability believed that they became a victim because of their disability.

This report presents the first findings about nonfatal violent and property crime experienced by persons with disabilities, based on the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). The report includes data on nonfatal violent victimization (rape/sexual assault, robbery, aggravated and simple assault) and property crime (burglary, motor vehicle theft, theft) against persons with disabilities in 2007. It compares the victimization experience of persons with and without disabilities, using population estimates based on the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS). Data are presented on victim and crime characteristics of persons with and without disabilities, including age, race and gender distribution; offender weapon use; victim injuries; and reporting to the police.
Crimes Against People with Disabilities, 2007

In this 500 page report, NCD offers information and advice to assist all levels of government in its work to establish evidence-based policies, programs, and practices across the life cycle of disasters. This report provides examples of effective community efforts with respect to people with disabilities, and evaluates many emergency preparedness, disaster relief, and homeland security program efforts deployed by both public and private sectors.

Effective Emergency Management: Making Improvements for Communities and People with Disabilities
 

This resource provides several statistics from peer-reviewed journals and governmental sources. The research provided in this document may be useful to those looking to examine the scope of the problem.
 
Information Sheet: People with Disabilities and Sexual Assault

This document explores reasons for the systemic omission of women with disabilities from mainstream research and from services addressing non-disabled women's experiences. The article includes a discussion about inequity, predominant values and culture, use of language, disabled women's experiences of oppression and violence, and service provision within the context of feminist standpoint theory.
Individual-Systemic Violence: Disabled Women's Standpoint

This document offers guidelines for working with deaf/hard of hearing individuals.
 
Etiquette Tips for Working with Deaf/Hard of Hearing Individuals

This Applied Research document covers the origins of our knowledge concerning the sexual abuse of women with disabilities, discusses data on women with disabilities and the men who abuse them, and explores the advocacy efforts of women with disabilities and their allies.
 
Confronting the Sexual Abuse of Women with Disabilities

This document lists several resources and research materials for use by advocates, researchers, students, survivors, and others interested in the subject matter.
 
Bibliography: Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence and Persons with Disabilities