New Government Watchdog Report Highlights Urgent Need for Improved Access to Domestic Violence Services for People with Disabilities
People with disabilities experience domestic violence at over five times the rate of those without disabilities.
WASHINGTON – Today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a new report highlighting critical deficiencies in access to domestic violence services for people with disabilities. The report was requested by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby” Scott (VA-03) and Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01).
The report shows that disabled people experienced domestic violence at over five times the rate of those without disabilities from 2017 to 2022. The rates were higher among those with cognitive disabilities, women, and certain racial and ethnic groups. Local domestic violence centers, despite their efforts to improve accessibility, face ongoing challenges such finding interpreters for deaf survivors and obtaining specialized knowledge to assist diverse needs.
“The GAO report highlights a critical gap in our domestic violence services for individuals with disabilities. Importantly, we must invest in the collection of crucial data to understand the needs of survivors with disabilities, but also must ensure this information leads to meaningful improvements,” said Ranking Member Scott. “We must guarantee that our systems are not only adequately funded but also effectively implemented, so survivors – regardless of their abilities - receive the support they need.”
“Too many people with disabilities experience abuse at the hands of an intimate partner or family member. We have a responsibility to help them, and this report shows there is more we must do so survivors can more easily access support at domestic violence centers. I’ll keep working to help survivors with disabilities connect with services tailored to their needs,” said Rep. Bonamici.
The report also points out that while the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) supports some accessibility-related technical assistance, it has made limited progress in evaluating if such assistance meets grantees’ needs. HHS has not specifically collected data on services for people with disabilities, though it plans to update its monitoring forms to address this issue.
Expanding data collection has the potential to significantly impact efforts to address these issues. The report highlights the urgent need for systemic improvements in how we deliver domestic violence services to individuals with disabilities. Addressing these shortfalls is crucial to ensuring every survivor receives the comprehensive support they require. We must act on these findings to enhance our programs and services.
To read the full report, entitled, "HHS Should Assess Accessibility-related Technical Assistance for Local Centers," click here.
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