‘Untold Stories’ shines light on violence against those with disabilities

By Philip Haldiman
Mail | X: @PhilipHaldiman

She first experienced the bullying in elementary school.

A “group of a few girls” started with “being mean” and then it progressed “beyond bullying.”

Their behaviors “became more sexual in nature” in the sixth grade — at recess they would ask her to go into the bathroom and keep the door open so that other girls could join in and watch.

They would tell her to put her legs up on the grab bars, “And they would imitate sexual movements, and I didn’t like that ... To do certain things, like touch myself in certain areas while the people watched and then try to come and touch me there.”

The behavior escalated and continued through junior high and high school. Finally, she told a school resource officer, who acted immediately.

She is a woman with intellectual disabilities and a life long survivor of harassment and inappropriate behavior for no other reason than she is different than others.

And she is one of many with intellectual disabilities who participated in Untold Stories, a research project released earlier this year about sexual violence against people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism.

Her experiences are not uncommon.

The rate of rape and sexual assault against people with intellectual disabilities is more than seven times the rate against people without disabilities; among women with intellectual disabilities, it is about 12 times the rate, according to a report from National Public Radio.

Project lead Lynne Tomasa said the Untold Stories study shares the lived experiences of survivors, families, and the professionals who support them.

In the study, released in June, the aforementioned woman was known as Female Survivor – 3, and the inappropriate behavior continued into adulthood as she became more intimate with the opposite sex. Her name has been kept private to protect her.

Tomasa said she beleives this woman’s experience happens a lot, much more than is reported.

Tomasa said collecting exact numbers on prevalence is difficult — it can range from 8.2% to 80%. She said challenges include: fear of coming forward and reporting, lack of supportive services throughout the reporting process, inability to access/reach the victims in their residential setting, victims’ lack of understanding that what is happening is not right, as well as lack of investigator skills and training.

Untold Stories tells “honest, vivid, and painful stories from survivors, families, and professionals with extensive experience working in the disability field,” including graphic descriptions of sexual violence like those perpetrated against Female Survivor – 3.

Tomasa said the study shows non-consensual sexual violence against people with intellectual and developmental disabilities is happening repeatedly in every setting.

“We cannot turn our backs on individuals who need our attention and support,” she said. “We need to do a better job of listening and observing what victims are telling us through words and behaviors. We need to believe them and improve our communication and investigation skills so individuals will begin to trust us and tell their stories.”

In Arizona, the Department of Economic Security Division of Developmental Disabilities provides supports to individuals with the diagnosis of autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, cognitive/intellectual disability, and Down syndrome.

Untold Stories states participants shared their lived experiences so others will understand that it “can happen anywhere and to anyone.”

Tomasa said the survivors’ stories reveal that healing from sexual trauma takes time, support, and community engagement, which was one of the complexities in conducting the study.

“It was difficult to reach and identify victims and survivors who felt comfortable telling their story. I was concerned that each person was OK after our conversation and had the support they needed,” she said. “Each person in the project wanted their stories heard in order to help others who are or have experienced sexual violence.”

Philip Haldiman can be reached at phaldiman@iniusa.org, or on Twitter @philiphaldiman. We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments, pro or con, on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.

Philip Haldiman
Senior News Editor | Peoria

phaldiman@iniusa.org

Meet Philip
Haldiman is an award-winning journalist who most recently took first place for investigative reporting in 2023 from Arizona Newspapers Association. He joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2015, covering Sun City West his first year. Since 2016, he has covered the city of Peoria. Prior to coming to INI, he was a reporter with The Arizona Republic for seven years, covering numerous cities throughout the Valley. Before that, he was a freelance writer.

Community: Haldiman spearheads the Peoria Independent Hometown Heroes Awards program, honoring local individuals and businesses that give back to the community. He has hosted local candidate forums over the years and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists. Haldiman also served as a member of the Journalism Program Community Advisory Board at Glendale Community College. Outside journalism, Haldiman served as a member of the city of Peoria Complete Count Committee for the Census, 2019-2020. Lastly, he has served as a member of his HOA governing board since 2021.

Education: Arizona State University with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications and a BA in Theater. 

Random Fact: Haldiman is a fourth-generation Arizonan as well as wrote and produced an autobiographical comic book about his time spent in Hollywood and his life as a cult film star.

Hobbies: He enjoys hiking Arizona’s mountainous landscapes and is currently working on a play for the stage.