Disability Abuse
Disability abuse is a serious violation of human rights. Strategic Advocacy supports people with disability, families, and supporters to recognise abuse, understand their rights, and access independent advocacy.
Abuse against people with disability can occur in many settings, including homes, workplaces, community services, hospitals, and residential care. It is often hidden, minimised, or dismissed, particularly where people face communication barriers, dependence on others, or power imbalances.
What Is Disability Abuse?
Disability abuse refers to actions or failures to act that cause harm, exploitation, control or violation of a person’s rights because they have a disability. It can be intentional or systemic, isolated or ongoing, and may be perpetrated by individuals, organisations, or institutions.
Forms of Disability Abuse
- Physical abuse, restraint, or denial of care
- Sexual abuse, assault, or coercion
- Psychological or emotional abuse, threats or intimidation
- Financial or economic exploitation
- Neglect or withholding essential supports
- Institutional or systemic abuse within services
Why People with Disability Are at Higher Risk
People with disability experience abuse at significantly higher rates due to dependence on others for support, social isolation, inaccessible reporting systems, fear of losing services or housing, and disbelief when abuse is disclosed.
The Role of Advocacy
Independent advocacy helps people with disability to be heard, to understand their rights, and to navigate complex systems. Advocacy supports individuals to raise concerns, make complaints, and pursue safer outcomes without taking control away from them.
WCAG Spot-Check for Accessibility
Image Alt Text Check
Icon not found Check for descriptive alt text
- All meaningful images have descriptive alt text
- Decorative images use empty alt="" or role="presentation"
- Complex images have long descriptions nearby
Quick Fix: Add alt attributes to all img tags describing the image content and purpose.
Keyboard Navigation Test
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- All interactive elements reachable with Tab key
- Visible focus indicator on all elements
- No keyboard traps - can navigate through entire page
Quick Fix: Ensure tabindex values allow logical tab order and add :focus styles for visible indicators.
Heading Structure Review
Icon not found Verify heading hierarchy
- Only one h1 per page (usually the main title)
- Heading levels don't skip (h1 → h2 → h3)
- Headings accurately describe content sections
Quick Fix: Use semantic heading tags in proper order without skipping levels.
Color Contrast Test
Icon not found Check color contrast
- Text meets WCAG AA standards (4.5:1 for normal text)
- Large text meets standards (3:1 for 18pt+)
- Links distinguishable without color alone
Quick Fix: Use contrast checker tools and adjust colors to meet minimum ratios.
Form Accessibility Review
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- have associated labels
- Required fields clearly indicated
- Error messages descriptive and helpful
Quick Fix: Add label elements and aria-required attributes for form fields.
Navigation Structure Check
Icon not found Verify navigation accessibility
- Skip link available
- Consistent navigation across pages
- Multiple ways to navigate to content
Quick Fix: Add skip links and ensure navigation works with keyboard and screen readers.
Understanding the Impact
For a deeper exploration of how disability abuse affects individuals, families, and communities — including systemic barriers and long-term impacts — read our comprehensive resource:
Get Advocacy Support
If you or someone you support is experiencing abuse, you do not have to navigate this alone. Strategic Advocacy can help you understand your options and connect with appropriate support.
Human Rights Context
Disability abuse is recognised internationally as a form of violence and discrimination under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Preventing abuse requires accessible systems, independent oversight, and genuine inclusion of people with disability as rights-holders.