Position on Hate Crimes

SABE believes that no one, whether they have a disability or not; should be the victim of a crime of hatred.

In 1994 Congress amended the Hate Crimes Statistics Act to add disabilities as a category for which hate crimes data are to be collected. Because the FBI only began collecting statistics on disability bias in 1997, results are not yet available. However, we know from social science research that the stereotype that people apply to people with disabilities is expressed in many forms of discrimination, including increased risk for sexual and physical abuse. While the FBI collects information on hate crimes against people based on race, religion, sexual orientation and disability there is a concern that hate crimes committed against people with disabilities often go un-reported because of intimidation or fear of not being believed
The Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, a national organization representing low-income adults and children with disabilities, holds that such hate crimes are motivated by the stereotype that people with disabilities are not equal, deserving, contributing members of society, and, therefore, it is okay to attack them.

Talk to your local self-advocacy group and others about this issue and work on it together.
Find out what laws in your state affect people with disabilities who are victims of hate crimes, if there are any.
If the laws do not exist or do not include people with disabilities, work with your lawmakers to introduce or change legislation.
Work with local law enforcement so that they are aware of disability issues and how hate crimes affect people with disabilities.
If you think that someone with a disability has been a victim of a hate crime, REPORT IT and help them to speak up!
If you have been a victim of a hate crime, contact someone that you trust to help you go through the process of reporting the crime.