Responding to Abuse Against People with Disabilities

1
Responding to Abuse Against People with
Disabilities

• Monday 14th April 2008

2
Purpose of the ForumPart One

• Acknowledge that abuse exists in many different
  forms,
• Generate discussion about some of the more
  subtle types of abuse,
• Examine types of resources that exist that can
  assist people with disabilities and disability
  services to respond to abuse,
• Start thinking about what we can do within our
  own agencies to minimize abuse.

3
What is Abuse?

• Abuse is defined as neglect or harm to a person
  resulting in physical, psychological, sexual or
  material (financial) injury, caused by the
  behaviour of a person with whom the person with a
  disability has a relationship implying trust.
• For example partner, friend, support worker,
  family.

4
What do we know about abuse neglect of people
with a disability?

• People with a disability are more likely to
  experience abuse
• 3 4 times more likely (Sullivan P. Knutson,
  2000)
• 50 - 90 are estimated to be sexually abused
  within their lifetime (Carmody 1996)
• The abuse and neglect is more likely to have a
  severe impact
• More than one incident
• Occur over a sustained period
• Involve more than one perpetrator

5
Characteristics of Perpetrators

• People with a disability are more likely to
  experience abuse by someone they know, E.g. Care
  worker, family member (Sobsey 1994)
• Perpetrators are attracted to those who are
  vulnerable
• I.e.. Inability to fight back and learnt
  compliance, communication difficulties,
  unreliable witnesses.

6
Identifying Abuse Neglect

• Can be difficult to see as it is often hidden
  due to
• Inability to communicate abuse
• Lack of knowledge of what abuse is
• Fear of reporting abuse and neglect

7
Agenda

• 2.10pm Colleen Pearce Public Advocate
• 2.30pm David Sykes - Principal Officer Capacity
  Development
• Office of the Disability Services Commissioner
  
• 2.50pm Keran Howe Executive Officer
• Victorian Women with Disabilities Network
• 3.45pm David Cherry Clinical and Forensic
  Psychologist
• 4.05pm Arthur Rogers Executive Director
  Disability Services DHS
• 4.40pm Resources and ongoing opportunity for
  discussion
• 5.00pm Close

8
Before We Start

• Please turn off mobile phones
• Refrain from using names of clients or
  discussing individual cases

9
Colleen Pearce

• Public Advocate
• The Role of the Public Advocates Office in
  Assisting Victims of Abuse

10
David Sykes

• Principal Officer
• Office of the Disability Services Commissioner
• The Role of the Office of the Disability Services
  Commissioner

11
Keran Howe

• Executive Officer
• Victorian Women with Disabilities Network
• The Challenges Facing People with Disabilities
  Reporting Abuse

12
David Cherry

• Clinical Forensic Psychology
• Identification and Response

13
Arthur Rogers

• Executive Director of Disability Services DHS
• Future Response Strategy

14
Part Two
What some agencies are doing to minimize abuse

• Incorporating abuse identification as part of
  induction training
• Providing information to clients about What is
  Abuse? and how to report it
• Developing strategies / policies around
  minimizing abuse

15
Some Questions For You To Think About

• Does your service have policies and procedures on
  how to respond to abuse and neglect?
• How is the abuse and neglect identified?
• Who should the abuse be reported to?
• What supports should be given to the person?