This survey was written by Women With Disabilities Australia to gather information on our community’s experience of online safety.
We know that some women with disabilities experience online abuse and harassment. Examples of online abuse include if someone:

  • Harasses you or someone else about their body or the way they look.
  • Harasses you or someone else about the way they speak or move because of their disability.
  • Insults you about your gender, sexuality or disability.
  • Sends unwanted images, for example "dick pics".
  • Takes or shares intimate photos of you without your permission, known as "image-based abuse".
  • Threatens you.
  • Uses offensive or abusive language towards you.
  • Gets you to transfer money to them or someone else when you don’t want to.
  • Uses a fake identity online and tricks people. This is sometimes known as "catfishing".

Online abuse can happen by:
  • Strangers, for example someone you met on a dating app.
  • Someone you know well, like a carer, intimate partner or ex-partner.

In this survey we ask questions about online safety, particularly on dating apps and other online platforms. Your feedback will help guide our conversations with the Government and other organisations to support better safety measures and responses for women, girls and gender diverse people with disabilities.

Confidentiality
Your responses will be private. We will not collect your name or other personal information. We will not share who you are and will combine responses where possible. We will only use quotes from people who tell us we can use their quotes.

Help with the survey
If you have any questions, need help with the survey, or want to send us feedback, please email sarahs@wwda.org.au or call 0438 535 123.

Timing
The survey is all on one page and should take a few minutes to complete, but may take you more time or less. You can take as long as you want to complete the survey. You do not have to answer every question in the survey. You can exit at any time by closing the page.

Support
This survey talks about your experiences of harassment and abuse online, which might be difficult. You do not have to take this survey and you can exit anytime. If you find that you would like to talk to someone during or after this survey, you can find information about support services at the end of this survey. If you want to remove your answers, please let us know by emailing sarahs@wwda.org.au.

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* 1. How do you identify?
(choose all that apply)

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* 2. Do you identify as having a disability? If so, what type of disability do you have?
(you can choose more than one)

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* 3. Have you experienced or seen online abuse and harassment?
Please describe your experiences.

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* 4. Have you ever experienced or seen online abuse and harassment that was about your disability, or someone else’s disability?

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* 5. What kinds of disability-related online abuse and harassment have you encountered or are aware of?
Please describe your experiences.

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* 6. Have you ever felt unsafe online, or on a dating app?

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* 7. What do you think dating apps should do to keep women with disabilities safe?

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* 8. What kind of help do you think is needed for women with disabilities who face online harassment?

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* 9. What information do you need to feel safer online?

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* 10. What do you think is needed to address digital abuse and online gender-based violence?

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* 11. What should the Government do to stop online hate, gender-based violence that happens online or through technology, and other forms of online harassment that affect women with disabilities?

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* 12. How do new technologies, like AI and algorithms, affect the safety and well-being of women with disabilities online?

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* 13. How has online abuse and harassment impacted your life or the lives of other women with disabilities you know?

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* 14. What would make you feel safer online?

Thank you!

That is the end of the questions. Please press the 'Submit my answers' button at the bottom of the page to submit your answers.

You can find out ways to stay safe online on the Neve website page How to be safe online.

Do you want to seek support?

1800RESPECT
If you have experienced sexual assault, violence or abuse you can contact
1800RESPECT for counselling, referral and support.
Call 1800 737 732 or chat to someone online.

Lifeline
If you are thinking of harming yourself or experiencing a personal crisis, help is available. Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or chat to someone online.

eSafety Commissioner
If you would like to make a report of online abuse or harassment, or find out more about online safety and your rights, you can contact the eSafety Commissioner. Find out more information on their website.

NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission
If you would like to complain about or raise an issue with a service that you receive from a provider that is funded through the NDIS, like a support worker, or service provider, you can get support from the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. Visit the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission website or call the Commission on 1800 035 544.

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