Woman SittingGetting Free From Abuse
A Guide for Women with Disabilities

‘When I was married he liked to control everything … I felt I was a prisoner in my own home’ (Isabella).

Are you a woman with a disability who is worried about how you are being treated at home?

If so, you are not alone. This guide is based on the real experiences of women with disabilities. These women told their stories in the hope it would help others to deal with abuse.

This guide helps you to identify the warning signs of abuse by a partner, a family member, a carer, or someone else. It tells you about abuse or domestic or family violence, how it can affect you and what you can do if someone is hurting you. You can find advice from other women with disabilities, and read about their experiences of surviving abuse. Service providers can also get advice on how to support women with disabilities.

The main text of guide is also available in Arabic and Vietnamese.

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This website developed by the Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria, with assistance from the Telematics Course Development Fund.

Stories and Advice

  • ‘Through sheer determination and willpower I’m where I am today, gradually reclaiming my life’ from Anj's story.
  • Other stories
  • Advice from women with disabilities.

Other Languages

Read this guide in Arabic or Vietnamese

More Information

Visit the Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria website for more on abuse, services, the law, how to support children, how family & friends can help....and more.