Sexual violence among people living with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) is highly prevalent in New Mexico and in the United States. More than one in four New Mexican adults with I/DD report a history of forced sex or attempted forced sex, compared to fewer than 1 in 10 among people without I/DD. Power imbalances between caregivers and clients, lack of sexuality education for people with I/DD, isolation, gaps in caregiver training, frequent staff turnover, a culture of ableism and compliance, and underreporting of sexual violence all contribute to disparities in sexual violence victimization
