Research has highlighted the need for better safeguarding and services to support vulnerable blind and partially sighted people experiencing domestic abuse.
The report, commissioned by The Vision Foundation, revealed the prevalence of domestic abuse among blind and partially sighted people in what is described as ‘the first ever research into the scale and nature of domestic abuse’ among the sight loss community.
Researchers at SafeLives conducted interviews with 78 UK victims/survivors and surveyed 72 practitioners and public officials, and found a lack of knowledge and experience among organisations working in both the fields of sight loss and domestic abuse.
The report proposed actions for improvement, including a visual impairment ‘toolkit’ for practitioners with a quick guide to support, and training programmes for individuals and organisations working with people with visual impairment.
Vision Foundation chief executive Olivia Curno, said: ‘We were aware of the high risk of domestic abuse that disabled people face, but heard only occasional, anecdotal accounts of visually impaired victims from our partner organisations. We could find no targeted services and a total dearth of research.
‘Prior to The Unseen report, nothing existed which recorded the experiences of visually impaired victims and survivors of domestic abuse, nor the myriad barriers they face in getting support. We were shocked by what the research uncovered. It’s devastating to read, far worse than we had anticipated.’