Children and Adolescents with Disabilities : Risk Factors
In addition to the common risk factors for all children and adolescents, those with disabilities are vulnerable because they:
- May have developmental or communication differences that make disclosure of abuse difficult or impossible
- May not have been educated about sexuality and self-protection strategies (e.g., the right to say "no")
- May have difficulty differentiating between a hygienic touch, an affectionate touch, or an abusive touch
- May have physical disabilities that prevent them from defending themselves or getting away
- May depend on others to meet basic needs (bathing, toileting, feeding) which creates imbalances of power and potential for dependence on abusers
- May have a desire to please or may have cognitive difficulties that make them overly trusting
- May not be believed when they report abuse, due to stigma and assumptions about their reliability
