Self Defense for People with Disabilities

While a person with a disability can seemingly appear as an easy target, being disabled does not necessarily mean defenselessness.  If you have a disability, it is important for you to know that plenty can be done to protect yourself. Ultimately though, it is up to you to arm yourself with the necessary skills and information to shore up your defenses.  But, where do you begin?

A good, quick place to start is with a basic self-defense course in your own neighborhood.  Check out your local community colleges and chaptered-outfits such as the YMCA and the American Red Cross.  The law requires that all businesses make reasonable adjustments to their services for disabled patrons.  Investigate.  Call beforehand and ask if the program offers any adaptive self-defense instruction.  Then, you will know ahead of time and can make the decision to either sit in for the lectures (which may offer some valuable information) or look elsewhere for classes specific to your disability.

Some martial arts offer adaptive forms for people with disabilities.  For example, people with paraplegia and tetraplegia can receive instruction and accreditation for Judo.  In addition, some defense courses were specifically created for people with disabilities.  Warrior School: Disabled Defense is one such program.  These schools teach people to use everything at their disposal, so that arms, heads, wheelchairs and mobility devices can act as weapons if necessary.

In the end, nothing can substitute for good sound judgment.  Being aware of your environment, knowing your vulnerabilities and avoiding places and situations that could put you at risk are often the biggest steps you can take in ensuring your safety.