But it has been a long and difficult road for those with disabilities - and it still is. They seem different to other people, because they might use a wheelchair or need a cane, because they might have uncontrollable seizures or have trouble communicating or understanding. These differences can evoke a range of emotions from others, like misunderstanding and apprehension, or even feelings of superiority and hatred. This can turn into anti-disability bias, which in turn can lead to disability-based biased crimes.

There are several issues involving crimes of abuse of people with disabilities that I would like to address. The first is family violence against people with disabilities. In both disabled and non-disabled communities, a person known to the victim inflicts most abuse, and the incidence of abuse is 20% higher in the developmentally disabled and deaf community.

In this case, family violence is the

- A mentally disabled man from Portland, Oregon was kidnapped by a

While a disability can make it more difficult for a person to abuse escape or report abuse, social attitudes towards persons with disabilities are have contributed to their increased vulnerability to violence. They tend to be viewed and treated as children, as lacking intelligence. And many times when they actually report abuse, they are not believed, or the abuser is more likely to be believed than the victim; especially if the abuser is in a position of authority. The abuser may also use the victim's disability or difficulty in communicating to discredit their story.

I also think one of the best solutions to these problems would be the changing of attitudes in our society. If we could all learn to appreciate differences, and value one another as equals, I believe this would help eliminate abuse against people with disabilities.

It is extremely difficult for any abused person to leave a situation of abuse. For a person with a disability, the situation can be even more difficult. They may be dependent on their abuser for affection, communication, and financial, physical, and medical support. Some are unable to communicate about their abuse because of their disability or because their living situation prevents them from having free communication with someone they trust.

The degree of risk of sexual abuse of persons with disabilities is at least 150% of that for individuals of the same sex and similar age without disabilities. It is estimated that only 20% of the cases of sexual abuse involving disabled people are ever reported to the police or other authorities (Ryerson, 1981.).

Although more disabled men are abused than non-disabled men, disabled women seem to be the biggest victims of sexual abuse. Two hundred and forty-five women with disabilities (developmental and physical) responded to a questionnaire in 1988:

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