people with disabilities are one of the most vulnerable groups in terms of being victims of...
TRANSCRIPT
PERSONAL SAFETY AND RISK REDUCTION
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE ONE OF THE MOST VULNERABLE GROUPS IN TERMS OF BEING VICTIMS OF PHYSICAL, SEXUAL AND VERBAL ABUSE; NEGLECT; AND FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION.
STATISTICS
In 2011, Missouri Adult Protective Services investigated 8,543 reports of abuse and neglect involving adults with developmental disabilities.
A survey in 2012 by Nora Baladerian reported that over 70% of people surveyed had experiences abuse and neglect.
87.2% reported verbal abuse 50% reported physical abuse 41.6% reported sexual abuse 37% reported neglect 31% reported financial exploitation.
How do you define abuse?• it’s more than hitting and kicking
How do you define neglect?• It’s not just food and water.
How do you define financial exploitation?• Your money should take care of you first.
DON’T BE A VICTIM!
Write your own:
Risk Reduction
Personal Changes for Personal Safety
To humane care and treatment;
To safe and sanitary housing;
To attend or not attend religious services;
To receive prompt evaluation and care, treatment, habilitation or rehabilitation about which you are informed insofar as you are capable of understanding;
oTo be treated with dignity as a human being;
oTo be free from verbal and physical abuse.
o To have access to consultation with a private physician at your own expense;
oTo be evaluated, treated or habilitated in your least restrictive environment;
oTo a nourishing, well-balanced and varied diet;
BEFORE ABUSE HAPPENS
1. Get informed.A. What is abuse vs a crime?B. Who are abusers?C. Where are abusers?
2. Use Plain talkA. Know the correct names for your body partB. Role play
3. Identify safe peopleA. At home, work, school, neighborhood
Know what to do
when
You think someone has abused you
You know you have been hurt
You’re hungry, You smell bad
You don’t feel good about something that happened to
you
You are denied access to your wheelchair or
crutches; or food and water
DURING/When Abuse is Happening
Keep 2 things in mind:
1. You want to survive with the least amount of harm
PROTEST
RUN
Stay safe/Cooperate if you have to
Find a safe person/get home
SURVIVE
2. You want to pay attention to everything
Familiar or stranger
• age• Name• clothes
gender
• hair• Skin tone• Facial hair
environment• smells• sounds
Pay Attention
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE INCIDENT
WHO
Where
WhenTELL
Someone
About it.
Tell someone you trust. NOW
Tell someone in authority. NOW
Tell the police. NOW
Call Adult Protective Services 1-800-392-0210
Talk with Investigators-Be truthful
Cooperate with medical personnel
Talk about your feelings
Respect your own privacy
Revise your plan
AGENCY BASED CHANGES
Empower
Build Relationship
s
Educate
Educate the participants you serveEducate the staff providing services
Build relationships with participants, become safe people
Build relationships with families
Empower participants to stand up for their right to be treated respectfully-LISTEN TO THEM
COMMUNITY BASED CHANGES
Empower
Build Relationship
s
Educate
Educate the community on what is respectful
Educate the community regarding how to report concerning situations
Build relationships with community organizations Encourage inclusion
Empower people to support participants with disabilities
MISSOURI LAW
Abuse and Neglect laws concerning adults with developmental disabilities are written from the standpoint of institutions.
Law providing protection for those adults living in the community is much more vague.
Guardianship should not be required for the law to recognize the possibility of exploitation
The law should better define abuse and neglect
The law should define vulnerable people
CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS
http://www.senate.mo.gov/LegisLookup/default.aspx/leg_lookup.aspx
Contact your local officials
RESOURCES Disability and Abuse Projectwww.disabilityandabuse.org
Risk Reduction Workbooks
Mo. Dept of Mental Health, Division of Developmental Disabilities http://dmh.mo.gov/dd/ Regional Offices
Senate Bill 40 Offices County Offices find your county office at
macdds.org/