ABSTRACT
This chapter explores, specifically, certain features of hate crime against disabled people that appear to be distinct from other types of hate crime, or at least where it exhibits important nuances. It argues that research, policy and practice in relation to hate crime against disabled people suffer from serious gaps in the evidence base. The chapter approaches the topic of hate crime through the lens of disability, it has to be acknowledged that a singular identity-based approach towards understanding hate crime has its limitations. It highlights international evidence pointing to the fact that disabled children and disables women may experience disproportionate levels of victimisation even in comparison with disabled people in general. In the United States of America, R. Grattet and V. Jenness argued that hate crime against persons with disabilities is “at best, a second class citizen insofar as it is peripheral to the core of hate crime legislation in the United States”.
