Crime Prevention For People With Physical Disabilities

Disabled persons face many physical challenges. This could make them vulnerable to would-be assailants who assume the disabled are incapable of protecting themselves.

Look Out for Yourself

• Stay alert and tuned in to your surroundings, whether on the street, in an office building or shopping mall, driving, or waiting for a bus or subway.
• Send the message that you're calm, confident, and know where you're going.
• Be realistic about your limitations. Avoid places or situations that put you at risk.
• Know the neighborhood where you live and work. Check out the locations of police and fire stations, public telephones, hospitals, restaurants, or stores that are open and accessible.
• Avoid establishing predictable activity patterns. Most of us have daily routines, but never varying them may increase your vulnerability to crime.

At Home

• Put good locks on all your doors. Sturdy deadbolt locks are best. Make sure you can easily use the locks you install.
• Install peepholes on front and back doors at your eye level. This is especially important if you use a wheelchair.
• Get to know your neighbors. Watchful neighbors who look out for you as well as themselves are a frontline defense against crime.
• If you have difficulty speaking, have a friend record a message (giving your name, address, and type of disability) to use in emergencies. Keep the tape in a recorder next to your phone.
• Ask your police department if they conduct home security surveys. This service is usually free and can help identify your individual needs.

Out and About

• If possible, go with a friend.
• Stick to well-lighted, well-traveled streets. Avoid shortcuts through vacant lots, wooded areas, parking lots, or alleys.
• Let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return.
• Carry a purse close to your body, not dangling by the straps. Better yet, carry a fanny pack. Put a wallet in an inside coat or front pants pocket. If you use a wheelchair, keep your purse or wallet snugly between you and the inside of the chair.
• If you use a knapsack or backpack, make sure it is securely closed.
• Always carry your medical information, in case of an emergency.
• Consider carrying a cellular phone or installing a CB radio in your vehicle.

Before You Go On Vacation

• Plan ahead. If you're traveling by car, get maps and plan your route. Have the car checked before you leave.
• Leave copies of the numbers of your passport, driver's license, credit cards, and traveler's checks with a close friend or relative in case you need to replace these papers.
• Put lights and a radio on timers to create the illusion that someone is at home while you're away. Leave shades, blinds, and curtains in normal positions. Stop mail and deliveries or ask a neighbor to take them in.

On Public Transportation

• Use well-lighted, busy stops. Stay near other passengers. Sit by the driver.
• Stay alert! Don't doze or daydream!
• If someone harasses you, make a loud noise or say "Leave me alone." If that doesn't work, hit the emergency signal on the bus or train.

Don't Let a Con Artist Rip You Off

Many con artists prey on people's desire to find miracle cures for chronic conditions and fatal diseases. To outsmart those con artists, remember these tips:

• If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
• Don't let greed or desperation overcome common sense.
• Get a second opinion.
• Be wary of high-pressure tactics, need for quick decisions, demands for cash only, or high yield low-risk investments.

Take A Stand

• Join or help organize a Neighborhood Watch group. Make sure their meetings are accessible to people with disabilities.
• Work with local law enforcement to improve responses to all victims or witnesses of crime. Role-play how people with disabilities can handle threatening situations.
• Work with rehabilitation centers and advocacy groups to offer a presentation to schools and other community organizations on the needs or concerns of individuals with disabilities.

This information provided by the National Crime Prevention Council.