Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
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What do women with learning disabilities say about their experiences of domestic abuse within the context of their intimate partner relationships?
- Authors:
- WALTER-BRICE Alison, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 27(4), June 2012, pp.503-517.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
In 2001 the UK Government launched its strategy ‘Valuing People’ which claimed to outline ways for services to work, to meet the needs of individuals with learning disabilities. In this qualitative study, interviews were held with 5 women with learning disabilities, all of whom experienced domestic abuse from intimate partners. Although women sought help from services to leave their abusive partners, it was either denied or inappropriate to their needs. Women internalised the oppression of their partners and the dual abuse from services that failed them. Helpful service provision included advocacy, a domestic abuse therapy programme, and an empowerment group informed by feminist perspectives. The authors concluded that once women with learning disabilities are recognised in society as women, they can begin to be acknowledged as vulnerable to the experience of domestic abuse within intimate relationships.
Working with women with learning disabilities who have experienced gender-based violence
- Authors:
- MACINTYRE Gillian, STEWART Ailsa
- Publisher:
- IRISS
- Publication year:
- 2022
- Pagination:
- 22
- Place of publication:
- Glasgow
This Insight summarises the evidence on women with learning disabilities who have experienced gender-based violence, the policy context, prevalence of abuse, risk factors, profiles of victims and perpetrators, and types of abuse and their impact. The paper also looks at the support that is available for this group of women, accessibility to mainstream services, barriers to seeking help, lack of awareness of available support, and the implications for the social service workforce. Key points include: the evidence base is limited due to inconsistencies around definitions, as well as a lack of research involving women with learning disabilities; very few studies in Scotland on gender-based violence (GBV) have looked in-depth at the experiences of women with learning disabilities; evidence suggests that women with learning disabilities are disproportionately likely to experience GBV, but are often a hidden population; abuse experienced by women with learning disabilities is often pervasive, leading to a normalisation of abuse - this makes it difficult for women to identify abusive behaviours and is a significant barrier to accessing services; support that includes educational components is vital for women to understand and identify abuse; trusting relationships and longevity of engagement are critical to enabling women to access appropriate support and to ensure that women feel believed and reassured that they are not to blame for the abuse; other preventative strategies, such as building social networks, developing peer support and challenging other areas of disadvantage in women's lives, are also important. (Edited publisher abstract)
Belonging: women living with intellectual disabilities and experiences of domestic violence
- Authors:
- PESTKA Katrina, WENDT Sarah
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 29(7), 2014, pp.1031-1045.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Women with an intellectual disability are under-represented in domestic violence research, yet they are one of the most vulnerable groups who are at risk of violence and abuse. This article reports on a narrative dialogic performative study, which utilised a feminist poststructural perspective to explore significant relationships and the concept of belonging in the lives of women with a mild intellectual disability. Four in-depth narrative interviews were conducted. The study found that the women shared similar stories of devaluation and rejection in childhood and hence the women’s search for belonging contributed to their vulnerability to exploitation and abuse in domestic violence relationships. The paper argues that gendered discourses and constructions of intellectual disability regulate domestic violence as a personal problem or way of life for women with intellectual disabilities. (Edited publisher abstract)
An evaluative research study of a specialist women's refuge
- Author:
- McCARTHY Michelle
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Adult Protection, 2(2), June 2000, pp.29-40.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
The research reported here examines the experiences of women with learning disabilities who have lived at the only specialist refuge available in this country. A full description of the specialist refuge is given and lessons drawn for other learning disability service providers. The importance of safe, women-only space is emphasised.
An easy access freedom programme: a new initiative in the provision of DVA services for women with learning disabilities
- Author:
- CAVALIER Tracy
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gender-Based Violence, 3(1), 2019, pp.119-128.
- Publisher:
- Policy Press
This paper describes and reflects on the practice of a UK based Community Learning Disabilities Team as it began to become aware of the increasing number of referrals of clients with learning disabilities also experiencing abuse. The paper describes how the previous provision was felt to be inadequate and the measures taken to address this. As such, we believe this paper will be of benefit to practitioners working with individuals experiencing both learning disabilities and abuse. This paper also illustrates the need to address these issues through collaborative working across professional boundaries. Again, we believe this example shows how the problems experienced by service users can be better served through this integrated approach. (Edited publisher abstract)
Mental health and domestic violence: ‘I call it symptoms of abuse’
- Authors:
- HUMPHREYS Cathy, THIARA Ravi
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Social Work, 33(2), March 2003, pp.209-226.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Research evidence shows a direct link between women's experiences of domestic violence and heightened rates of depression, trauma symptoms, and selfharm. A research project based in Women's Aid outreach services provides further evidence of women's experiences of severe emotional distress. However, their experiences of mental health services were often found to be negative. A number of practices within the medical model of mental health were unhelpful including: the lack of recognition of trauma or provision of trauma services; making the abuser invisible through focusing on the woman's mental health reified from her experiences of abuse; blaming the victim; offering medication rather than counselling support; the negative, consequent effects on child contact and child protection proceedings if the woman is labelled with mental health problems.
Family studies review yearbook: volume 1; 1983
- Editors:
- OLSON David H., MILLER Brent C.
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Publication year:
- 1983
- Pagination:
- 768p.
- Place of publication:
- London