A Blueprint for Change: Toward a National Strategy to End Sexual Abuse of Children with Disabilities
Date
2018
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Publisher
Vera Institute for Justice
Abstract
This blueprint is the culmination of literature reviews, stakeholder interviews, round table discussions, and an overall collective effort among advocates from the fields of child advocacy, victim services, and disability—as well as professionals from the criminal justice system—to chart a course for ending sexual abuse of children with disabilities. Because so little work has been done in this area, we relied heavily on our own experiences in the field, together with the many, many stories of sexual abuse we have heard from people with disabilities. The blueprint provides a brief summary of what we learned, and offers practical suggestions for integrating the needs of children with disabilities into prevention efforts, intervention efforts, and first responses….According to the National Crime Victimization Survey, people with disabilities face at least double the risk of violent crime victimization compared to those with no disabilities. When factors like age and type of disability are taken into account, more specific concerns emerge. In fact, children with intellectual and mental health disabilities are at a much greater risk of victimization: 4.6 times that of their peers without disabilities. (Author Text)
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Report
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Keywords
Synthesis, Child Abuse, Child Sexual Abuse, Disabled, Impairment, Sexual Violence, Intellectual Disability, Physical Disability, Developmental Disability, Victim Input, Accountability, Intervention, Community Involvement, Victim Protection
Citation
Harrell, Sandra (2018). A Blueprint for Change: Toward a National Strategy to End Sexual Abuse of Children with Disabilities. Vera Institute for Justice’s Center on Victimization and Safety, 42 pgs.