Working with children (or adults with children) with a physical or intellectual disability

Extremely vulnerable

Children with a disability are particularly vulnerable to child abuse, due to their extreme dependence on others, the added stress that caring for a child with a disability may place on carers, and the additional barriers the disability may place on the child's ability to defend her/himself from assault and ability to disclose abuse an/or accessing help.

The detection of abuse may also be hampered by difficulties in distinguishing between accidental injuries as a result of the impairment and abuse related injuries.

Risk factors

Risk factors for children with a disability are the same as for any abused child, however some factors which may be particularly relevant for this group are.

• failure to provide adequate care - including leaving the child without making adequate provision for the maintenance of her/his care routine
• significant social isolation from peers
• the sense of shame or guilt associated with abuse or neglect of a child with a disability may prevent families from seeking help when they need it.

Strategies for workers

When the child victim of abuse or neglect has a physical or intellectual disability health workers should:

• Advocate for the child and contact a specialist disability service if necessary.
• When advocating for a child with a disability, the child's circumstances should be individually assessed to ensure the child's special needs are advocated for appropriately. For example, what kind of disability does the child have? Does the child require a special treatment/care routine to be maintained, special appliances or aids? etc.
• Provide information and support to families, agencies, and/or foster carers, to assist them in meeting the special needs of the child.

Challenging behaviours

Some children, in particular those with an intellectual disability, have very challenging behaviours.

If doubtful regarding the appropriateness of management strategies employed by parents or carers to deal with these behaviours advice should be sought from disability specialists about the soundness of the strategies and/or any potential risk/s to the child.