Working with women with learning disabilities who have experienced gender based violence.

Key points

• The evidence base is limited due to inconsistencies around definitions, as well as a lack of research involving women with learning disabilities.
• Very few studies in Scotland on gender-based violence (GBV) have looked in-depth at the experiences of women with learning disabilities.
• Evidence suggests that women with learning disabilities are disproportionately likely to experience GBV, but are often a hidden population.
• Abuse experienced by women with learning disabilities is often pervasive, leading to a normalisation of abuse. This makes it difficult for women to identify abusive behaviours and is a significant barrier to accessing services. Support that includes educational components is vital for women to understand and identify abuse.
• Trusting relationships and longevity of engagement are critical to enabling women to access appropriate support and to ensure that women feel believed and reassured that they are not to blame for the abuse.
• Other preventative strategies, such as building social networks, developing peer support and challenging other areas of disadvantage in women’s lives, are also important