Women with disabilities
Abuse of disabled women often runs through care. Withheld medication, a hidden wheelchair, a blocked ride, an interpreter who never gets booked. That is abuse, and you can name it as abuse.
What to know first
- If the person who hurts you is also your caregiver, you can get help without losing care. Say that out loud when you call, and ask them to plan for it with you.
- Shelters must accommodate you. If one cannot, they are expected to help you find one that can, including in another city.
- You can bring a support worker, service animal, attendant, or interpreter. Ask when you call so it is arranged before you arrive.
- Deaf and hard of hearing callers can reach crisis lines through video relay service, or by text and chat where offered.
Finding a shelter that actually fits your needs
Accessibility varies a lot between transition houses, so ask specifics rather than asking if they are accessible. Write the answers down before you decide.
- Entrance and rooms: step free entry, elevator or ground floor bed, a doorway wide enough for your chair or walker, an accessible bathroom and roll in shower.
- Care: whether an attendant or support worker can come in, whether staff can help with medication storage, and whether they can hold refrigerated medication.
- Sensory needs: a quiet or private room, low lighting, scent free policy, and whether they can reduce noise at night.
- Communication: ASL or LSQ interpretation, captioned video calls, plain language paperwork, braille or large print, and a staff member who will slow down with you.
- Equipment and animals: room for a wheelchair, scooter charging, a hospital bed, a service animal, and any medical devices you use.
- Transport: whether they can arrange accessible transport to get you there. Many can, including a taxi or paratransit ride they pay for.
- If the nearest shelter cannot accommodate you, ask them to call around for you. That is part of their job, not a favour.
DAWN Canada and disability led support
DAWN Canada, the DisAbled Women's Network of Canada, is the national organization for disabled and Deaf women. Their work is built on the experiences of women like you, not written about you.
- DAWN Canada offers information, referrals, and resources on violence against disabled and Deaf women, in English and French. Reach them at dawncanada.net.
- They can point you to provincial disability organizations and to shelters and services with a track record of accommodating disabled women.
- Independent Living Canada centres, provincial Deaf associations, CNIB, and Canadian Hard of Hearing Association chapters often help with equipment, advocacy, and finding accessible housing.
- If a service turns you away or cannot accommodate you, a disability organization can advocate alongside you. You do not have to argue on your own.
Legal help that understands disability
Provincial legal aid covers protection orders, family law, and immigration matters. Disability specific help stacks on top of that.
- Ask legal aid for accommodations directly: an interpreter, extra time, a support person in the room, documents in plain language or large print, and remote appointments.
- ARCH Disability Law Centre in Ontario is a specialty clinic for disability rights, and other provinces have community legal clinics with disability expertise.
- Abuse of care is legally recognized. Withholding medication, food, mobility aids, or help with the bathroom can support a protection order and criminal charges.
- Substitute decision making, guardianship, or a joint account with the person harming you can be challenged. Ask legal aid about revoking a power of attorney and about changing who manages your money or benefits.
- Human rights complaints are an option when a shelter, landlord, or service refuses reasonable accommodation.
- Bring dates. Your Incident Log in this app is written evidence, including missed care and denied equipment.
ASL, LSQ, and communication support
Getting help should not depend on being able to talk on the phone.
- Canada VRS gives Deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing people free sign language video calls to any Canadian number, including crisis lines. Set it up at srvcanadavrs.ca.
- Most provincial crisis lines have a TTY number, a text line, or a live chat. Ask for the one you can use, and save it in this app.
- Ask for an interpreter for shelter intake, police statements, medical appointments, and legal meetings. It should be arranged and paid for by the service, not by you.
- Deafblind intervenor services can support you through intake and appointments in some provinces.
- If you have a speech disability or use a communication device, ask for extra time and for questions in writing. Ask them not to speak to your companion instead of you.
- Text 988 for suicide crisis help anywhere in Canada, day or night, with no phone call needed.
Protecting your money, benefits, and equipment
Disability benefits and equipment are common pressure points. A few quiet steps make leaving more possible.
- Have your disability benefit paid into an account only you can reach. Provincial offices can change direct deposit without telling anyone else.
- Copies of your benefit letters, medication list, prescriptions, and equipment paperwork belong in the Vault in this app.
- Register your paratransit account and keep your card with you, so a ride does not depend on the person harming you.
- Know the serial numbers for your chair, scooter, or hearing devices. It matters if they are taken or damaged.
- If your prescriptions are controlled by someone else, tell your pharmacist. They can often set up a separate pickup or delivery for you.
Canadian resources
Filter the resource library
Turn on the accessible services filter to see only shelters and services with accessibility, ASL, or communication support noted.
You are allowed to ask for exactly what you need, in the words that fit you, as many times as it takes. Needing care is not a reason to stay.