This briefing for MSP’s, published in December 2012, highlights and explains disabled women’s unique experiences of violence and abuse. For example, disabled women are more likely to be subjected to domestic abuse by a partner or carer than women who are not disabled. The briefing draws evidence from research conducted by Dr Sonali Shah and her research team which used qualitative methods to gather the experiences of disabled women across the UK, and was part of a wider comparative European study . The briefing also analyses the impacts of violence and abuse on disabled women and the barriers to accessing services that they experience. It briefly focusses on financial abuse and welfare changes before making a small number of recommendations.