Programs & Services > Violence Against Women > Counselling for women with intellectual disabilities
Counselling for women with intellectual disabilities
Do you know a woman who has an intellectual disability who is experiencing abuse by her partner, family member, or paid caregiver?
Statistics vary, but there is consensus that women with disabilities are more at risk of abuse than non-labelled women. Factors contributing to this include isolation, lack of resources and the belief on the part of the perpetrator that a woman with a disability will not be believed.
Women with intellectual disabilities can experience barriers to participation in counselling. These barriers include a fear that they will be blamed, lack of information about the counselling process and difficulty getting support to attend sessions. They may be reluctant to share their stories, may not know the words to explain what happened to them, and/or use augmentative or alternative communication devices to engage.
Family Service Toronto’s Violence Against Women program offers counselling specifically dedicated to women who have an intellectual disability.
Services include individual work with clients as well as supporting community groups through consultation, workshops and networking. Individual work includes one-to-one counseling with a focus on safety planning, risk assessments, advocacy as well as referrals to external organizations where appropriate. All services are client-directed using an empowerment model with tools based in expressive arts and a feminist, anti-oppression framework.
Services are free and provided in a confidential manner. Counselling is available at our Scarborough and North York offices, but can also be offered in an office, home or community environment. Interpretive services can be made available.
For more information, please feel free to contact Vania at 416-586-9780 ext 446, vaniasu@familyservicetoronto.org
To learn more about abuse read our page on woman abuse.
A flyer explaining the service in plain language is available here. Please pass on/or post as appropriate.
Service can also be accessed by calling our Service Access Line at (416) 595-9618 and asking for a Violence Against Women counsellor.
To arrange for counselling, please call our Service Access Unit, Tel: 416.595.9618
