There is a severe shortage of information about self-reported experiences of bodily autonomy, hygiene, sexuality, safer sex education, sexuality, sexual autonomy, affirming relationships, and sexual harm among people with disabilities, especially information that is specific to Indiana. To begin to address this information gap, IDJ created our own survey with a coalition of people with disabilities and people without disabilities, self-advocates, service providers and professionals, and caregivers from 2019-2021.
The survey seeks to identify whether people with disabilities in Indiana are experiencing sexual violence, sexual harassment, and bodily restriction; and if people with disabilities in Indiana experience access to information about bodily autonomy, sexuality, and supported sexual and romantic decision-making.
We hope that this preliminary assessment sheds light on the magnitude of healthful and harmful experiences people with disabilities in Indiana are experiencing, especially regarding sexual and romantic wellness.
There are five infographics and plain text versions to explore these topics
- Bodily autonomy and wellness (body function, hygiene education, safer sex) Infographic | Plain text
- Sexual autonomy and wellness (education about consent & healthy sexuality & relationships, supported decision making) Infographic | Plain text
- Access to affirming service provision Infographic | Plain text
- Experiences with sexual violence Infographic | Plain text
- Experiences reporting sexual violence Infographic | Plain text
- Full report
Check out our infographics below! (Thank you to Skylar Kantola for creating these resources)
![Access to Affirming Services Among Adults with Disabilities in Indiana Results from the 2021 Indiana Disability Justice’s Community Strengths, Needs, and Desires Assessment TEXT ONLY VERSION Declining Services - 2/3rd of respondents reported that they would usually feel able to decline services from a service professional. - However, 40% of men and 25% of women indicated that setting this boundary with a service professional would depend on the circumstances. Being Ignored - 57% of respondents reported that they had at least one experience of a service provider speaking about their body and health to others as if they were not present, or not able to provide information themselves. Coerced Services - Over 1/4th of respondents had experienced services being withheld from them until they compiled with a “request.” - This included 1/3rd of the men, 1/5th of the women, and half of those aged between 56 to 65. Reporting Being Hurt - Almost 60% of respondents indicated they would usually feel able to tell a service provider if another service provider has hurting them, and 10% indicated they would fear retaliation for reporting a service professional. - Almost 70% indicated they would usually feel able to report a non-service provider hurting them. Transparency and Important Notes About This Survey This survey is not peer-reviewed research and is not representative of people with disabilities in Indiana, but it is statistically significant. Data regarding gender is weighted but data regarding age is not. This survey received 41 responses by participants living in 17 counties (including 9 out of 10 INSILC districts). Among those who disclosed their demographic data, participants included: - 22 women, 6 men, and 2 non-binary people - People aged from ranges 18-25 up to 76-85 - 26 white people, 2 Native Americans, 1 Black person, 1 Latinx person, 1 Asian or Pacific Islander person, and 1 multiracial person - 23 straight people, 7 LGB/SGL people, 1 asexual person, and 1 questioning person - People raised in mainline and evangelical Christianity, Catholicism, Judaism, and atheism. Participants included people with cognitive and developmental disabilities (9), chronic illnesses (13), physical disabilities (12), sensory disabilities (9) [including Blind and/or Deaf participant], psychiatric disabilities and neurodivergence (21).](https://i0.wp.com/indisabilityjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IDJ-Info-3-Access-to-Affirming-Service-Provision.png?resize=614%2C1024&ssl=1)
![Bodily Autonomy & Wellness Among People with Disabilities in Indiana
Results from the 2021 Indiana Disability Justice Community Strengths, Needs, and Desires Assessment
TEXT ONLY VERSION
Experiences During Adolescence
- Body Exploration
o 84% of respondent were not encouraged to explore their body, sexuality, and boundaries, including at least 65% of respondents in each age group.
- Puberty Education
o 1/3rd of all participants were not taught about puberty, including 30% of women and 60% of men.
o 1/3rd of all participants were also not taught about periods – no men recalled being taught about periods.
- Safer Sex Education
o 56% of respondents were not taught how to prevent pregnancy, including 2/3rd of those aged 46 – 55.
o Less than 40% were taught how to prevent STI transmission.
Experiences During Adulthood
- Body Function
o 65% if respondents reported usually receiving accurate information about how their body works, but 17% of men also reported a fear of retaliation for seeking this information.
- Hygiene Information
o Almost 3/4th of participants reported usually receiving accurate information about how to take care of their body, but 2/3rd also reported having the experience of being given inaccurate information about their body.
- Safer Sex Education
o Over 1/4th of respondents reported rarely receiving accurate information about practicing safe sex, including 2/3rd of those aged 56 – 65.
Transparency and Important Notes About This Survey
This survey is not peer-reviewed research and is not representative of people with disabilities in Indiana, but it is statistically significant. Data regarding gender is weighted but data regarding age is not.
This survey received 41 responses by participants living in 17 counties (including 9 out of 10 INSILC districts). Among those who disclosed their demographic data, participants included:
- 22 women, 6 men, and 2 non-binary people
- People aged from ranges 18-25 up to 76-85
- 26 white people, 2 Native Americans, 1 Black person, 1 Latinx person, 1 Asian or Pacific Islander person, and 1 multiracial person
- 23 straight people, 7 LGB/SGL people, 1 asexual person, and 1 questioning person
- People raised in mainline and evangelical Christianity, Catholicism, Judaism, and atheism.
Participants included people with cognitive and developmental disabilities (9), chronic illnesses (13), physical disabilities (12), sensory disabilities (9) [including Blind and/or Deaf participant], psychiatric disabilities and neurodivergence (21).](https://i0.wp.com/indisabilityjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IDJ-Info-1-Bodily-Autonomy-Wellness.png?resize=614%2C1024&ssl=1)
![Interpersonal Violence Reporting Choices Among People with Disabilities in Indiana
Results from the 2021 Indiana Disability Justice’s Community Strengths, Needs, and Desires Assessment
TEXT ONLY VERSION
Adult Experiences with Interpersonal Violence Among People with Disabilities Indiana
- Coercive Services
o 73% of respondents stated “No, I have not experienced this.”
o 27% of respondents stated “Yes, I have experienced this.”
- Unwanted Touching of Self
o 40% respondents stated “No, I have not experienced this.”
o 60% of respondents stated “Yes, I have experienced this.”
- Unwanted Touching of Someone Else
o 50% of respondents stated “No, I have not experienced this.”
o 50% of respondents stated “Yes, I have experienced this.”
Adult Reporting Experiences of Interpersonal Violence Among People with Disabilities
- Coercive Services
o 36% of respondents stated “No, and I do not want to report this.”
o 18% of respondents stated “No, but I intend to report this.”
o 9% of respondents stated “I’m unsure if I want to report this.”
o 36% of respondents stated “Yes, I have reported this.”
- Unwanted Touching of Self
o 41% of respondents stated “No, and I do not want to report this.”
o 9% of respondents stated “No, but I intend to report this.”
o 18% of respondents stated “I’m unsure if I want to report this.”
o 32% of respondents stated “Yes, I have reported this.”
- Unwanted Touching of Someone Else
o 50% of respondents stated “No, and I do not want to report this.”
o 6% of respondents stated “No, but I intend to report this.”
o 17% of respondents stated “I’m unsure if I want to report this.”
o 28% of respondents stated “Yes, I have reported this.”
“Someone told me I must touch their genitals or private areas when I did not want to touch them.”
Out of the 27% of respondents who experienced coercive services, 36% had reported the experience and 18% intend to report it while 36% have not and will not report it.
“Someone else touched me in a private area of my body in a way that made me uncomfortable or upset.”
Out of the 60% of respondents who experienced unwanted touching, less than 1/3rd had reported it. 9% intended to report this experience while over 40% did not and will not report it.
“Someone told me I must touch their genitals or private areas when I did not want to touch them.”
Out of the 50% of respondents who were told by someone else that the respondent must touch them, only 28% had reported the experience. 6% intended to report it and half has not and will not report it.
Transparency and Important Notes About This Survey
This survey is not peer-reviewed research and is not representative of people with disabilities in Indiana, but it is statistically significant. Data regarding gender is weighted but data regarding age is not.
This survey received 41 responses by participants living in 17 counties (including 9 out of 10 INSILC districts). Among those who disclosed their demographic data, participants included:
- 22 women, 6 men, and 2 non-binary people
- People aged from ranges 18-25 up to 76-85
- 26 white people, 2 Native Americans, 1 Black person, 1 Latinx person, 1 Asian or Pacific Islander person, and 1 multiracial person
- 23 straight people, 7 LGB/SGL people, 1 asexual person, and 1 questioning person
- People raised in mainline and evangelical Christianity, Catholicism, Judaism, and atheism.
Participants included people with cognitive and developmental disabilities (9), chronic illnesses (13), physical disabilities (12), sensory disabilities (9) [including Blind and/or Deaf participant], psychiatric disabilities and neurodivergence (21).](https://i0.wp.com/indisabilityjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IDJ-Info-5-IPV-Reporting-1.png?resize=642%2C642&ssl=1)
The Survey
Welcome!
Welcome to the official Community Strengths, Needs, and Desires Assessment (CSNDA) for people with disabilities in Indiana. This survey was created by a coalition of people with disabilities and people without disabilities, self-advocates, service providers and professionals, and caregivers through the Indiana Disability Justice Task Force (IDJ).
Survey Purpose
This survey seeks to identify whether people with disabilities in Indiana are experiencing sexual violence, sexual harassment, and bodily restriction; and if people with disabilities in Indiana are experiencing access to information about bodily autonomy, sexuality, and supported sexual and romantic decision-making. We hope that this preliminary assessment sheds light on the magnitude of healthful and harmful experiences people with disabilities in Indiana are experiencing, especially in regards to sexual and romantic wellness.
Who May Complete This Survey
Any adults with disabilities who are residing in Indiana may participate. “Disability” for the purposes of this survey follows the social model for disability. Therefore, disability may include developmental and cognitive disabilities, physical disabilities, mobility disabilities, sensory disabilities, chronic illness, neurodivergence, mental illness, etc. Please feel free to invite a caregiver, friend, or other trusted support person to help you complete the survey.
Anonymity and Confidentiality
All information submitted in this survey will be completely anonymous as well as confidential. The settings for this survey are such that no personally identifiable information will be collected. Data analysts and project leaders will not be able to ever connect an individual survey to any individual person. The responses will be released only as part of a group summary in which no individuals’ answers can be identified.
Participation Options
Ways to participate in this survey include online or on a paper survey which can be mailed to you. To request a paper survey be mailed to you, please email indisabilityjustice@gmail.com or text or call Skye Kantola at 317-721-4294.
Brief Guidance to Support Persons
If you are assisting a person with a disability to complete this survey, be mindful to clearly convey the meaning of questions and response options. Do not encourage a particular response to the questions based on your beliefs regarding the questions.
Definitions
Please find a list of definitions for various words used in this survey: https://indisabilityjustice.org/definitions-related-to-disability-justice-and-sexual-wellness/. We recommend that you open the Definitions page (by clicking on the link) in another tab for reference as you complete the survey.
Resources
Here is a list of statewide and by-county sexual violence and domestic violence resources in Indiana: https://indisabilityjustice.org/sexual-domestic-violence-organizational-resource-list/.
Here is a list of statewide and by-county disability services resources in Indiana: https://indisabilityjustice.org/disability-services-in-indiana-resource-list/.