People with disabilities (PwD) may face different challenges and have very different needs. Some disabilities may put people at higher risk for crimes like sexual assault or abuse. People with disabilities may be less likely to be taken seriously when they make a report of sexual assault or abuse. PwD may not understand or lack information about healthy sexuality. They may not know the kinds of touching that are good or bad (appropriate or inappropriate). This can be very hard. A person’s disability may require other people to touch them to provide care. Someone who has intellectual or developmental disability (IDD) may not be able to consent to sexual activity. Many people with IDD are survivors of sexual abuse.
PwD experience violent victimization at rates 3-5 times higher than people without disabilities. Yet, they are less likely to receive services that help stop violence and support healing from trauma. Only 13% of survivors with disabilities receive victim services.
Massachusetts Resources
Disabled Persons Protection Commission Information for Survivors
Information on abuse and neglect, including explanations, signs of physical and sexual abuse, etc. Includes how to report abuse and neglect.
- What is abuse and neglect?
- List of dos and don’ts when abuse is suspected
- Risk factors
- Vulnerability
How to file a report of abuse and neglect
- Massachusetts abuse reporting numbers
- Information needed to file a report of abuse and/or neglect
- Information on the victim
- Information on the abuser
- Details of the incident
- Risk assessment
- Additional information
DPPC hotline: 800-426-9009
Mass.gov Statewide Resources for Sexual Assault Survivors
Here you’ll find a collection of survivor resources throughout Massachusetts.
Rape Crisis Centers in Massachusetts have free, confidential services for teens and adult survivors.
- Western MA Rape Crisis Centers
- Central MA Rape Crisis Centers
- Northeast MA Rape Crisis Centers
- Southeast MA Rape Crisis Centers
- Boston and 128 Area Rape Crisis Centers
- Statewide Resources by County
If you are a victim of abuse, you are not alone. There’s more help for you (or your children) than ever before. You, and only you, can make the choice to change or end the abusive relationship. You don’t have to go through it on a daily basis. No one deserves to be abused. There are programs across the state.
No one deserves to be abused or assaulted. No matter what you have been told, abuse to you is not your fault. You can call a domestic violence program. You can get the help you need.
Phone: 617-248-0922
SafeLink
Massachusetts’ statewide 24/7 toll-free domestic violence hotline.
Call SafeLink for:
- Safety planning resources for survivors. You can learn how you and your family can stay safe.
- A safe space in which to talk about your relationship or someone else’s.
- A direct link to domestic violence programs across Massachusetts.
- Referrals to local domestic violence services. Other community resources may help you.
- Support and resources for anyone who is worried about a victim of domestic violence
- Information about domestic and dating violence
Toll-free hotline: 877-785-2020
Language Access Planning for Deaf People: A Toolkit
Activating Change has a toolkit for deaf survivors of domestic and sexual abuse. Deaf survivors face barriers that prevent them from getting help.
NAMI has a resource list for people who have experienced sexual trauma including sexual abuse, sexual assault, and rape.
Massachusetts Peer Support Network
The Peer Support Network (PSN) is a Massachusetts network created and led by people with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) for people with disabilities who are survivors of sexual violence.
PSN works with Adult Protective Services (APS), law enforcement, prosecutors, victim advocates, trauma services, advocacy organizations, and survivors to improve and provide access to services for survivors of sexual violence with disabilities.
R3 ( Recognize, Report, and Respond) App
The R3 app is designed to help people with disabilities Recognize, Report, and Respond to abuse.
Safe Kids Thrive
Safe Kids Thrive provides free tools and resources to schools, childcare centers, and other youth-serving organizations to prevent child sexual abuse.
MASS Advocates Standing Strong (MASS) Survivor Support Packet
MASS has a guide for survivors of sexual abuse.
Download the Survivor Support Packet (.pdf)
YWCA of Central Mass Live Chat
Domestic violence services are designed to meet the needs of survivors and their children whose lives are affected by family violence. All services are confidential, free of charge
24-hour helpline: 508-755-9030
Chat Line: http://www.ywcahelp.com
National Resources
loveisrespect
love is respect offers 24/7 information, support, and advocacy to young people fromf 13 to 26. You may have questions about your romantic relationships. You may want to know the signs of dating abuse.
Want to know more about?
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- Dating
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- Personal Safety
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- Get Help
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- Healthy Relationships
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- Supporting Others
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- LGBTQIA+ Relationships
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- Breaking Up
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- Setting limits
Phone: 866-331-9474
Text: ‘LOVEIS’ to 22522
Sexual Violence affects every part of a person’s life. Her/his body, feelings, thoughts, behaviors, spirituality and relationships with others and the outside world are examples. This is true whether it is friend or family rape, stranger rape, date rape, child sexual abuse or marital rape.
Every 68 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted. And every 9 minutes, that victim is a child.
Sexual assault and abuse of people with disabilities often goes unreported. If you or someone you care about has a disability and has been sexually assaulted or abused, the most important thing to know is that it is never the victim’s fault. Help and support are available. Some disabilities may put people at more risk for crimes like sexual assault or abuse.
ValorUS (VALOR)
ValorUS® (VALOR) is a California-based, national organization. Offers support and resources for counselors, support staff, and survivors.
Phone: 916-446-2520
Respect Together
United to end sexual abuse, assault and harassment.
Activating Change: Creating Pathways to Healing for Survivors with Disabilities
Activating Change is working to remove barriers to services and create new pathways to healing for survivors with disabilities.
Phone: 646-457-8067
Email: hello@activatingchange.org
How Safe are Americans with Disabilities? (.pdf)
VictimConnect Resource Center
VictimConnect Resource Center (VCRC) is a weekday phone, chat, and text-based referral helpline operated by the National Center for Victims of Crime.
Stalking
Victim Connect Resource Center has good info about stalking. You may be a victim of stalking if someone:
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- Keeps calling your phone, including hang-ups
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- Follows you and shows up wherever you are
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- Sends unwanted gifts, letters, texts, or emails
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- Damages your home, car, or other property
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- Monitors your phone calls or computer use, possibly through spyware
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- Uses technology, like hidden cameras or global positioning systems (GPS), to track where you go
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- Drives by or hangs out near your home, school, or work
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- Threatens to hurt you, your family, friends, or pets
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- Does other things that control, track, or frighten you
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- Uses other people to try to get to you, like children, family, or friend
Call or text: 855-484-2846
Fact sheet updated 11/19/24
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Disclaimer: INDEX is pleased to provide you this information. Please note, this information is not comprehensive, nor is it intended to take the place of professional advice. We encourage you to check other resources of such information. No endorsement by the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, DisabilityInfo.org, INDEX, or affiliates, should be inferred. We reserve the right to remove, to modify, or to add any information at any time, for any reason, and without notice.
