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Protecting disabled children

Research shows that disabled children are more likely to be abused than able-bodied children and suggests three main reasons for this:

Dependency

Disabled children are often dependent on others for eating, dressing, using the toilet and getting around. There may be a number of carers involved in their lives. Some of these will provide intimate care, which gives a potential abuser a legitimate reason to touch a child's body. Because of their dependency, a child may find it difficult to tell anyone if they are unhappy or uncomfortable about a carer's behaviour. They may even want to protect the abuser because of emotional ties to them and they may feel confused and ambivalent about the situation.

Institutional care

Children living away from home lack the presence of a parent or other trusted adults to whom they can turn. They may find it difficult to complain about their care or incidents of abuse in case they are not being believed or are punished in some way. And some parents may feel anxious about reporting abuse by institutional staff in case their child ends up losing the specialist care they need. All of which may mean that abuse continues because it is not reported.

A child's life in an institution is often governed by firmly fixed routines for meal times, bed times, organised activities, etc. There are few opportunities for the children to learn how to assert themselves and to make their own choices. They come to feel that there is no point in questioning "the way it is". This can make it easier for an abuser to exploit them.

Communication

A disabled child may not have the communication skills or vocabulary needed to express themselves. Some, for example deaf children, use direct touching as a method of communication. This exposes them to a larger amount of return touching, which could conceal abusive touching.

A child who does not understand sexuality and abuse is less able to recognise or report abuse. Some children may not realise they are being abused, especially if they trusted the abuser and there was no pain. It is difficult for any child to talk about abuse. But if a child cannot communicate verbally, it becomes even more difficult.

Signs of abuse in disabled children

If a disabled child is being abused they may show some of the following signs:

  • Unexpected fear of a particular adult, or reluctance to socialise with them
  • Aggressive or unusually withdrawn behaviour
  • Sleep problems
  • Unexplained injuries or bruising. All children get scratches and scrapes, usually on exposed areas such as knees and elbows. But a child who has injuries to other parts of the body may have been harmed deliberately.
  • Repeated injuries, or injuries or illnesses that do not receive the necessary medical attention
  • Changes in eating patterns or fluctuations in weight
  • Self harming
  • Inappropriate sexual behaviour or awareness for their age
  • An inability to make friends, or being encouraged not to by staff

NB It is important to remember that these signs do not always mean abuse - there may be other explanations. For example, it is important to distinguish between behaviour that stems from your child's disability, and behaviour that may be the result of abuse.

"What can I do to protect my child?"
As a parent of a disabled child you will be instinctively more protective of them than of an able-bodied child. You may also already know that disabled children are more vulnerable to abuse. However, some people find it difficult to believe that anyone would abuse a disabled child. This kind of disbelief can make it very difficult for disabled children to report abuse.

Disabled children are in fact more vulnerable to abuse than non-disabled children. Although the abuser is most likely to be a family member or someone known to the family, disabled children living in residential care are also vulnerable. This is because some abusers will seek out jobs that bring them into unsupervised contact with children.

Here are some ways you can help to protect your child:

  • Ensure your child is happy and comfortable with their carer, especially if the carer provides intimate care.
  • Listen to your child carefully if they tell you someone has hurt them and take what they say seriously.
  • Your disabled child may spend large amounts of time receiving medical care. Don't be afraid to question the necessity for their treatments. Are they being given to the child to make them normal? If so, there is a danger your child may be made to feel that they are not good enough as they are. Make sure they know they are loved for themselves.
  • If your child attends an institution, ask to see their child protection policies and procedures. Check out how they would inform you of any problem. Make sure they know that your priority is your child's safety while in their care.
  • Ask how the institution vets and recruits staff. Are they automatically given police checks? (Many abusers will seek work with children to increase opportunities for abuse.) Do the staff receive child protection training?
  • Recognise your child's developing sexuality. Give them information about sex that is appropriate for their age and understanding, ensuring that they know about the functioning of their own bodies. As with all children and young people, they need clear and correct information on sex and relationships.
  • Make sure your child knows what abusive behaviour is. Children with a learning disability may need extra help in understanding abuse and their right to protection.
  • Maximise communication with your child. Ensure they have access to appropriate language and images that describe intimate or abusive acts and are confident in using them should they need to.

"How can I help empower my child?"

  • Give them as much choice as possible about their lifestyle - the food they eat, the clothes they wear and their carers. Ask their opinions, so that they realise that they have the power to change things in their life.
  • Make sure you know their likes and dislikes. Help them to participate in activities they enjoy.
  • Spend time with your child, communicate to them how important and valued they are and how their feelings matter.
  • Learn about positive disabled role models, and share this with your child. For example, sportsmen and women, artists, entertainers and musicians. It can be very inspiring for disabled children to see what other disabled people have achieved.
  • Praise your child's efforts and achievements, no matter how small. This will make them feel valued and good about themselves - an important factor in personal safety.

"I've been told I should teach my child about personal safety. What does this mean?"
The aim of personal safety training is to give children enough information and understanding to be able to respond safely to an abusive or uncomfortable situation before it becomes serious. This does not mean children are responsible for their own safety - that is the job of the adults around them.

To stay safe, children need to:

  • understand what is abusive behaviour
  • respect their own bodies and those of others
  • identify potentially unsafe situations and know what steps to take to stay safe
  • communicate their thoughts and feelings
  • report adults or other children who act inappropriately
  • get help in an emergency.

"What should I do if I think my child has been abused?"
Contact the NSPCC Child Protection Helpline and discuss your concerns with one of our Helpline advisers, who are all qualified Child Protection Officers. If necessary they will contact social services on your behalf. Alternatively, you can contact your social services department yourself.


Useful publications
Cross, M (1998) Proud child, safer child: a handbook for parents and carers of disabled children. London: Women's press.

Briggs, F. (1995) Developing Personal Safety Skills in Children with Disabilities. London: Jessica Kingsley.


Useful contacts

NSPCC Helpline
Tel: 0808 800 5000
Email: Helpline@nspcc.org.uk

NSPCC Asian Helpline
Bengali 0800 096 7714
Gujurati 0800 096 7715
Hindi 0800 096 7716
Punjabi 0800 096 7717
Urdu 0800 096 7718
Asian/English 0800 096 7719

Cymru/Wales Child Protection Helpline
Freephone: 0808 100 2524.
Email: helplinecymru@nspcc.org.uk in English or Welsh.
Textphone: Freephone 0808 100 1033. This is for people with hearing difficulties.
Fax: 01248 361085

Contact a Family
0808 808 3555
www.contactafamily.org.uk
Free national helpline open 10am-4pm Monday - Friday.
UK charity that helps families who care for children with any disability or special need. Good source of information and advice.
Minicom: 020 7608 8702

ChildLine
0800 1111
www.childline.org.uk
Free national 24-hour helpline for children and young people in trouble or danger.
Help with any problem, any time, night or day.

Disability Alliance
020 7247 8776 voice and minicom
www.disabilityalliance.org
Aims to improve the living standards of disabled people. Offers information and advice on a range of issues including disability, illness, and benefits. Members can access a telephone helpline service. For details of how to join, see www.disabilityalliance.org.uk, or call the phone number shown above.

Rights line
020 7247 8763 voice and minicom (part of Disability Alliance)
Monday & Wednesday 2pm-4pm
Advice for disabled people who are claiming or thinking of claiming benefits, and their carers.

National Deaf Children's Society
0808 800 8880 voice and text phone.
www.ndcs.org.uk
Monday - Friday 10am-5pm
Helpline for parents and carers of deaf children in the UK, offering comprehensive advice and support. Offers service in other languages through Language line.

Voice UK
0870 013 3965
www.voiceuk.org.uk/
Monday - Friday 9am-5pm
Telephone support and information for adults and children with learning disabilities who have been abused, and for their families and carers. Campaigns for changes in the law and practice.

Disabled Living Foundation Helpline
0845 130 9177
Monday - Friday 10am-4pm
UK independent, impartial advice service on disability equipment for people with disabilities, their carers, families and health professionals.

Disability Advice and Welfare Network
0800 073 0171
Monday-Thursday 9.30am-4.30pm, Friday 9.30am-12noon
UK service offering advice and assistance with welfare benefits to people with disabilities. Tape service for blind people.

Respond
0808 808 0700
www.respond.org.uk
Respond offers a range of services to victims and perpetrators of sexual abuse who are learning disabled.

People First
020 7485 6660
www.peoplefirstltd.com
Organisation run for and by people with learning difficulties to gain self-advocacy skills.

Mencap
Freephone 0808 808 1111 (learning difficulties helpline)
www.mencap.org.uk
24 hours a day.
UK charity working with people with learning difficulties, their families and carers. Help and advice on anything to do with learning difficulties.