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Compiled by Kristi Denkeler, ResCare Premier (page 3 of 3) Page 3 of 3
- Gently encourage the child to give you enough information to evaluate whether abuse may have occurred
- Remain calm so as not to upset the child
- If the child reveals the abuse, reassure him/her that you believe him/her, that he/she is right to tell you, and that he/she is not bad
- Tell the child you are going to talk to persons who can help him/her
- Return the child to the group (if appropriate)
- Record all information
- Immediately report the suspected abuse to the proper local authorities. In most states, reporting suspected abuse is required by law.
- As a child care provider, you should get training in recognizing and reporting child abuse before you are confronted with a suspected case.
Abuse of Children With Disabilities:
“A recent American study found that caregivers abused children with disabilities 1.7 times more than children without disabilities. Research in Canada suggests that the risk estimate of abuse of people with disabilities may be as high as five times greater than the risk for the general population.
...Feelings of shame and denial may be so strong in some cultures that a child’s disability will be hidden by members of his or her family. As a result, the child may be denied access to normal developmental opportunities, as well as important support or treatment.
...Some adults find it easier to empathize with the caregiver than with the child with a disability. They may hesitate to judge a caregiver’s actions as abusive, wondering what they would do if they had to deal with the stress of caring for a child with disabilities. These self-doubts must be set aside when the dignity, safety or physical integrity of a child with a disability has been violated in any way. Children with disabilities are entitled to the same protection and security as all other children” (Frazee, 2000).
ARE CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES MORE VULNERABLE TO ABUSE?
For children with disabilities, the usual risk factors for child abuse (i.e. dependence and vulnerability) are intensified. Children who are unable to perform the same tasks as other children of their age are more vulnerable for many reasons:
- Their inability to see, hear, move, communicate, dress, toilet or bathe themselves independently makes them more vulnerable to rough, careless or intrusive personal care, or neglect of their personal needs.
- These differences also make them vulnerable to unfair and disrespectful comparisons with siblings or other children of the same age.
- Their differences make it difficult for them to participate in family and community activities without assistance, leading to social isolation from their natural peer group and adults other than their primary caregiver(s). Isolation is another major risk factor for abuse.
- Their differences make it more likely that their personal care and even their residence will be provided by people who are not related to them and/or who lack an affective relationship with them. Being cared for outside of the home is another major risk factor for abuse.
- Children with intellectual or communication differences are vulnerable to being ignored, disbelieved or misunderstood if they attempt to report abuse.
- Parents/caregivers of a disabled child may feel very much on their own. They may be stressed by ongoing health care needs, difficulties in finding suitable childcare, financial burdens and social isolation, along with related difficulties such as depression and marital discord. Although the role of stress in triggering or causing abuse of children with disabilities is still controversial, studies indicate that caregivers who perceive themselves as severely stressed are more likely to commit abuse.
- Children with disabilities are more likely to be viewed in terms of their disability. This places severe limits on a child’s sense of his or her own capabilities, interests and ability to dream and imagine future possibilities. Being depersonalized in this way makes a child vulnerable to some of the most severe forms of abuse, including homicide.
- Children with disabilities are often taught to be compliant with adults, especially at the doctor’s office or therapist’s office or clinic. Compliance for intrusive or painful procedures that a child would naturally resist may sometimes be obtained through force, coercion or bribery. As a result, it becomes very difficult for a child to distinguish between legitimate and abusive adult demands.
From ResCare Premier. Used with permission. Third-party use prohibited. www.rescarepremiertexas.com.
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