People with Multiple Sclerosis's Experiences of Domestic Violence and Abuse

This chapter discusses what is known about the domestic violence and abuse (DVA) experiences of people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Disabled people are more likely than non-disabled people to experience all forms of violence, including DVA. Research has highlighted that disabled people experience unique forms of DVA and from more perpetrators than non-disabled people. However, this research tends to homogenise disabled people, which fails to recognise that DVA experiences and support journeys and needs can vary due to impairment. The chapter draws on the available literature on people with MS’s experiences of DVA, which has been written mainly within medicine and health. It outlines the prevalence and increased risk of abuse against people with MS, the concerning nature of carer abuse, and what interventions are viewed as being essential to supporting them, with this exploration aided by disability studies literature to help contextualise the DVA experiences of people with MS.