Gender-Based Violence and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Systematic Review of Reporting, Response, and Reform

Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) face elevated risks of gender-based violence, yet their unique experiences reporting to police, service providers, and informal support systems remain underrepresented in trauma and justice research. Following PRISMA guidelines, this systematic review aims to map the existing literature on the pathways of reporting and help-seeking behavior of victims with IDD and their subsequent experiences in engaging with the criminal justice system. We identified empirical work through systematic searches of relevant online databases, hand searches, reference searches, and efforts to obtain grey literature. We retained 29 articles for analysis after meeting inclusion criteria, and these articles emphasized widespread barriers to disclosure and justice, including systemic inaccessibility (e.g., relying on verbal interviews and use of jargon), lack of trained personnel, and victims' limited autonomy. Findings highlight the need for multi-level reforms that center the rights, autonomy, and lived experiences of individuals with IDD while expanding access to formal and informal reporting systems. Future research should prioritize the effectiveness of current accommodations in reporting, the feasibility of recommended accommodations, and pathways to disclosure. These efforts should include the disability community at all stages of the research to better ensure that research questions, methods, and findings reflect lived experiences, address real barriers, and support the development of accessible reporting and response systems.