The investigation of abuse and women with disabilities - Going beyond assumptions

This article delineates issues that should be considered by investigators e ndeavoring to conduct empirically sound research on abuse and women with di sabilities. These issues include (a) incorporating in the research design v ariables that assess increased vulnerability; (b) using literature-based de finitions that distinguish emotional, physical, sexual, and disability-rela ted abuse (c) using population-based sampling methodologies; (d) securing i nformed consent; (e) maintaining confidentiality; (f) installing safety mea sures to protect study participants and project staff from retaliation; (g) making special efforts to include women with disabilities from minority ba ckgrounds; (M using appropriate, validated, disability-sensitive screening instruments; (i) understanding the legal requirements for reporting abusive incidents; (j) implementing abuse studies in clinical settings; and (k) in cluding formative and summative evaluations in outcome studies of abuse int erventions. To increase the capacity of battered women's programs to serve women with disabilities, considerably more needs to be known about interven tions that are most effective for this population.