Pauline stands in her room after coming home from a day program for adults with intellectual disabilities. Michelle Gustafson for NPR hide caption
People With Intellectual Disabilities And An Epidemic Of Sexual Assault An NPR investigation finds that people with intellectual disabilities are raped at a rate seven times higher than those without disabilities.
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Abused And Betrayed
Patricia (from left), Natalie and their mother, Rosemary, sit in their home in Northern California. Natalie, a woman with an intellectual disability, is unable to speak. She couldn't explain what was wrong and doctors couldn't figure out why she was in pain. Talia Herman for NPR hide caption
James Meadours delivers the keynote address at a summit in New Jersey to propose reforms to prevent sexual abuse of people with intellectual disabilities. Meadours, a rape survivor with an intellectual disability, travels the country to raise awareness. Joseph Shapiro/NPR hide caption
States Aim To Halt Sexual Abuse Of People With Intellectual Disabilities
James Meadours (left), Debbie Robinson and Thomas Mangrum share their stories about sexual assault. Lizzie Chen for NPR; Claire Harbage and Meg Anderson/NPR hide caption
An NPR investigation finds that people with intellectual disabilities suffer one of the highest rates of sexual assault — and that compared with other rape victims, they are even more likely to be assaulted by someone they know. Cornelia Li for NPR hide caption
From The Frontlines Of A Sexual Assault Epidemic: 2 Therapists Share Stories
Lyons-Boswick goes to Veterans Courthouse in Newark to have a judge sign off on a warrant she needs to prosecute a sexual assault case. Cassandra Giraldo for NPR hide caption
How Prosecutors Changed The Odds To Start Winning Some Of The Toughest Rape Cases
A participant helps Park hang the agenda on the wall at the start of class. Brianna Soukup for NPR hide caption