Op-Ed: Intellectuals With Disabilities From Harlem To Hollywood Are Sexually Assaulted 7 Times More

January 7, 2018

By Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi

Our landmark report, Disability & Criminal Justice Reform: Keys to Success woke a lot of people up. We were thrilled with the coverage it got on the PBS NewsHour HERE. However, one aspect of that work is to shine a light on the horrific levels of rape and abuse of people with disabilities. As a rape survivor myself, I am constantly beating a drum on this issue. Indeed, I published an oped about it yet again this week. We know that tonight’s Golden Globes will focus on #MeToo. But sadly, people with disabilities are disproportionally impacted by rape and abuse. Thus, I am thrilled to let you know that at a moment of reckoning in the United States about sexual harassment and sexual assault, a yearlong NPR investigation finds that there’s little recognition of a group of Americans that is one of the most at risk: adults with intellectual disabilities. The series starts on Monday, January 8 and runs through January 18th, 2018.

The epidemic of sexual abuse of people with intellectual disabilities. Numbers obtained by NPR show they are sexually assaulted at rates more than 7 times those for all adults without disabilities.

On the January 8th show of All Things Considered: The epidemic of sexual abuse of people with intellectual disabilities. Numbers obtained by NPR show they are sexually assaulted at rates more than 7 times those for all adults without disabilities.

There will be print stories (with photos and art) on-line at npr.org. And the radio stories can be heard there.

To solve problems we need to stop hiding from them! The time for solutions is now!

Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi is President, www.RespectAbility.org. RespectAbility is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that understands we are a stronger community when we live up to our values – when we are welcoming, diverse, moral and respect one another.

Editor’s Note: Please share stories with us below of abused men and women who are intellectually disabled in Harlem.


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