Summer 2002 Newsletter

A Right To Be Hated

People with disabilities might not have achieved full equality and access in society, but they are not exempt from violent crimes such as robbery and assault. In fact, just the opposite might be true. Some research has found that the rate of major crimes against people with disabilities is four to ten times higher than that of the general population. When people with disabilities are specifically targeted, they become what many would call victims of hate crime. The International Association of Chiefs of Police defines a hate crime as a criminal offense against a person, property, or society that is motivated, in whole or in part, by the offender's bias against race, religion, ethnic/national origin, gender, age, disability, or sexual orientation. But why would someone attack a person with a disability? One reason, it is believed, is that people with disabilities often do not report crimes because they fear reprisal and a loss of independence. The group, All Walks of Life, whose mission is to empower social solutions for people with disabilities, believes that the main reason is that someone with a disability is simply more vulnerable to predators. The thinking is that people who have obvious physical disabilities or use visible mobility aids are less likely to escape or fight back.