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/