 |
 |
|
|
|
| |
 |
 |
Articles
Relationship Between Disability and Increased Risk of
Sexual Abuse
There are a number of factors that contribute to children with
disabilities being at risk of sexual abuse. Among these are:
- Historical Beliefs - people with disabilities have traditionally been
viewed as "less important" and have been de-valued as contributing members
of society.
- Degree of Dependence on others - children with disabilities depend on
greater number of caregivers and other adults to support them in their
daily living
- Societal response/support - even when the abuse is reported, follow up
may be limited due to issues related to the credibility of testimony given
by an individual with a disability. Moreover, there currently is a lack of
social agencies willing to provide disabled persons with the supports and
counseling necessary to encourage reporting.
Additionally, the life environment of many people with developmental
disabilities may contribute to their vulnerability. Most individuals with
developmental disabilities live a more "protected" life than do their
non-disabled peers. However, well-intentioned, this "overprotection" may
very well contribute to a higher risk for abuse.
The following rather common "by-products" of living in an extremely
protected environment may increase a person's vulnerability to sexual abuse
and exploitation.
- Ignorance/Lack of knowledge - being unaware of what abuse is. How
can one stop abuse if one doesn't know what it is happening to them?
- Over-compliance of socialized vulnerability - complete dependence on
caretakers for much of daily living does not support the development of
independence skills. It is often easier for the caretakers to do the
individual rather than to teach how to take care of the task. When
decisions are made for you, you do not develop a basis for using sound
judgment, and you miss out on the practice necessary for learning how to
make important decisions for yourself about who to spend time with, how
to handle certain situations, etc.
- An Unrealistic view that everyone is your friend - protection from
outside influences may contribute to the development of a very trusting,
albeit unsafe, nature about everyone and everything.
- Limited/restricted social opportunities - this makes the likelihood
of developing real friendship and intimacy quit slim. The resulting
sense of social deprivation may lead an individual to accept professed
affection/attention from people who are not really friends, people who
do not mean well, and who may exploit.
- Low Self-esteem - this is common to many people with developmental
disabilities. Clemes and Bean's (1981) theory of self esteem suggests
there are four essential components to the development of high
self-esteem: connectedness, uniqueness, models, and power. Many
individuals with developmental disabilities have no sense of power over
their lives. People who develop little sense of personal power - little
ability to control their environment in anyways - are prime targets for
becoming victims of sexual abuse, as they are use to having others
control their lives.
- Limited/no assertiveness - assertiveness is frequent not reinforced
and may even be punished. Not having practice regarding when it is
advisable to say NO (even to caregivers_ increases vulnerability. When
it is never OK to say NO, one learns to stop trying... again increasing
vulnerability.
- The inability to defend oneself - mobility, sensory, and
intellectual impairments are likely to interfere with a person's
inability to resist or escape abuse. because of the nature of their
disability, physically dependent people are also often unable to exert
normal counter-control over those who care for them.
Other System Factors that Increase Vulnerability:
 | Children/Adults are more likely to live outside of their natural
family home. |
| Exposure to a large number of caregivers |
| Institutions commonly cluster sexually aggressive and assault
individuals with defenseless others. |
| Family stress, isolation, and demoralization may increase the
incidence of intra-familial abuse |
| Training strategies that focus on compliance and generalization
may also increase vulnerability
|
|
|
|
