Disability and Trafficking: How Traffickers Target People with Disabilities and Guidance for Service Providers

Abigail Meharg, Attorney, Gateway Alliance Against Human Trafficking Program Committee Member

According to the World Health Organization, individuals with disabilities represent roughly 16 percent of the world’s population. Traffickers may target individuals with disabilities for a number of reasons. Between January 2015 and December 2017, the national Human Trafficking Hotline documented 2,116 potential victims that had a pre-existing health concern or disability immediately prior to their trafficking situation. This included a possible physical disability, mental health diagnosis, substance use concern, or intellectual/developmental disability. Moreover, the intersection between disability and human trafficking can be cyclical. On one hand, individuals with disabilities are more likely to be targeted by traffickers; on the other hand, being trafficked can cause or exacerbate existing disabilities. 

There are several vulnerabilities that increase the risk for individuals with disabilities to be trafficked. For one, traffickers may seek out victims with disabilities to gain access to their public benefits. As stated by the Human Trafficking Legal Center, “While persons with disabilities may be trafficked into sex or labor, many cases include one additional element: the theft of Social Security or disability benefits. The opportunity to steal government benefits provides an added incentive for traffickers to target persons with disabilities.”  

Additionally, individuals with disabilities may require a caregiver to meet basic needs, and this caregiver may take advantage of this dependency; some individuals with disabilities may have difficulty with communication or speech, and this may affect their ability to get help and report abuse; individuals with disabilities might be sheltered and isolated, and therefore crave friendships and relationships; finally, individuals with disabilities may lack an informed sex education, and may, in turn, be unaware of their right to object to unwanted touching or unsure of what constitutes a crime and what their rights are as a victim of a crime. Recruitment from drug rehabilitation centers and behavioral and mental health centers have also been documented in cases from the National Human Trafficking Hotline. 

The Human Trafficking Task Force has identified three key considerations to keep in mind when working with trafficking victims who have some type of disability. First, establish relationships with psychiatrists and counselors. As with all victim populations, background-specific and developmentally appropriate trauma treatment is an essential aspect of any quality comprehensive services response. Establishing relationships with psychiatrists and counselors who understand the unique needs of individuals with disabilities is an excellent way to meet these needs. Second, use a forensic interviewer to conduct law enforcement interviews. Because forensic interviewers conduct non-leading, victim-sensitive, neutral, and developmentally appropriate investigative interviews, they can be particularly helpful when interviewing victims with cognitive or developmental disabilities. Finally, accommodate for unique needs. When working with victims with disabilities, speak directly to the victim, giving them time to ask questions when necessary. Additionally, ensure that you have reasonable accommodation for access, furnish auxiliary aids when necessary, and remove structural and architectural communication barriers where readily achievable. 

As with any victim population, it is crucial to be educated when it comes to preventing and combatting human trafficking of individuals with disabilities. Utilizing resources specific to the needs of these individuals will allow advocates and service providers to more effectively meet said needs and care for these victims. 

Sources:

https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/24-02934-TIP_Factsheet-Persons-with-Disabilities-Section-508-Accessible-8.16.2024.pdf

https://polarisproject.org/blog/2018/08/individuals-with-disabilities-may-face-increased-risk-of-human-trafficking/

https://htlegalcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/Trafficking-of-Persons-with-Disabilities-in-the-United-States-Fact-Sheet.pdf

https://www.ovcttac.gov/downloads/resourceLibrary/Human-Trafficking-Guide_508c_JP_1-23-26.pdf