I’m Charlotte from the Yorkshire feminist collective. However, at this moment in time, I will be speaking on behalf of Leeds disabled people against cuts and I am honoured to be doing so. I am a member of Leeds DPAC and in the short time I’ve been part of their organising and planning I have really felt privileged to hear so many people’s experiences of being disabled.

This year disabled people have been targeted like many other groups here today. Disabled people’s rights have been slowly taken away, bit by bit and in so many various ways. Reductions in home to school transport for 16+, access to work being cut, cuts to provisions for children that need any form of support, the assisted dying act and the looming fear of the next budget.

But today I wanted to focus on the lack of access and support for disabled survivors of sexualised violence. Disabled individuals experience sexual violence at significantly higher rates than non-disabled individuals. In the UK, sexual violence against disabled women occurs at nearly twice the rate of non-disabled women, and domestic abuse within this group is almost three times higher. When we say women we mean trans women too.

Lack of access

So why is there such a lack of access and what are the barriers?
While refuges provide vital support, less than 1% are wheelchair accessible, and only one in ten refuge places accommodates domestic violence victims with physical impairments. This forces many to remain in abusive situations simply because safety is out of reach.

According to rape crisis, disabled survivors often struggle with inaccessible reporting mechanisms: websites without alternative formats, counseling lacking interpreters, and crisis services structured without inclusive design. Nearly half of survivors with communication needs report that the police failed to make appropriate adjustments or inform them of their rights.

Only 2% of UK courthouses are accessible to physically disabled people, making pursuit of justice virtually impossible for many. The lack of advocates, interpreters, and user-led specialist services further marginalise disabled survivors at every turn.

Underfunding

Services that are disabled-led are chronically underfunded too, despite this being the best place to understand survivors.

Disabled people often rely on caregivers for basic needs. This dynamic can be weaponized by abusers who threaten to withdraw care, isolate them, or institutionalise them if they speak out. This fear traps survivors in silence. They are often classed as “vulnerable adults” rather than people experiencing domestic or sexual abuse, diluting the gendered nature of the violence.

When disabled survivors attempt to report or access help, they frequently endure secondary victimisation—disbelief, blame, dismissal—worsening trauma and deterring others from coming forward.The lack of access and support can lead to prolonged abuse, isolation, and catastrophic mental and physical harm

Disabled survivors facing additional marginalised identities—such as being refugees, LGBTQIA+, or from communities experiencing racial inequality —face further compounded barriers: heightened stigma, fear of disbelief, and systemic exclusion. Yet, data and tailored services remain sparse.

So when we fight against violence against ALL women and girls please do not forget to fight for disabled women and girls too. We need to make sure our activism always has disabled people at the forefront of the fight.

Disabled survivors deserve not to be hidden or dismissed—but to be seen, heard, believed, and supported fully.

When we advocate to stop violence against women and girls we must ensure that we fight for justice, care, and compassion that’s accessible to everyone.