NICOLE Abuse and Exploitation:

Heightened Dangers for Children With Disabilities

By Nicole Moehring

FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION ARE HEIGHTENED DANGERS. ACCORDING TO DISABILITY JUSTICE, INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES ARE FOUR TO 10 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE ABUSED THAN THEIR PEERS WITHOUT DISABILITIES. ABUSE IS OFTEN THOUGHT OF AS ONLY BEING PHYSICAL. HOWEVER, THERE ARE MANY FORMS OF ABUSE. AS PARENTS AND GUARDIANS, WE MUST BE AWARE OF THE MANY FORMS OF ABUSE AS WELL AS THE POSSIBLE SIGNS.

Below are the various forms of abuse and brief descriptions of how they may present:

• Bullying

Unwanted, aggressive behavior involving a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated over time.

• Complex trauma

Exposure to multiple traumatic events and difficulties that develop as a result of trying to survive.

• Domestic violence

Abusive or violent behavior directed by one family or household member against another.

• Economic abuse

When an abuser makes or tries to make the victim financially reliant. Economic abusers often seek to maintain total control over financial resources, withholding an individual’s access to funds or prohibiting the victim from going to school or work.

• Emotional abuse

Deflating or invalidating an individual’s sense of selfworth and/or self-esteem. It may result in constant criticism, name-calling, injuring an individual’s relationship with the person, or interfering with their abilities.

• Financial abuse

When someone harms another person relating to money. For example, using an individual’s money for themselves or making them spend money by conniving them.

• Mental abuse

The use of demeaning, intimidating, or threatening words, signs, gestures, or other actions about an individual that result in emotional distress or maladaptive behavior.

• Misappropriation

The unauthorized use of another’s name, identity, or funds without their permission, with the likelihood of it harming that person.

• Neglect

Defined as failing to provide needed food, clothing, shelter, medical care, or supervision to the individual so that their health, safety, and/or well-being are threatened. It also includes isolating an individual from their loved ones and prohibiting someone from going to school or work.

• Physical abuse

Any form of violent behavior inflicted on another individual, destruction of their property, or injuring their pets. This may include biting, cutting, burning, hitting, slapping, battering, shoving, punching, pulling hair, pinching, etc.

• Psychological abuse

When an abuser invokes fear through intimidation; threatening to physically hurt another individual, their family or friends, or pets.

• Threats

To intentionally inflict damage, injury, or pain to someone in retribution for actions done or not done.

• Stalking

May include following an individual, spying, watching, harassing, showing up at someone’s home or work, sending gifts, collecting information, making unwanted phone calls, or leaving unsolicited written messages. When any of these things are done individually, they are legal, but any of these behaviors done repeatedly result in a crime.

• Sex trafficking

Illegal business of harboring, recruiting, transporting, or providing an individual, especially a minor or vulnerable individual, for the purpose of sex.

• Sexual abuse

When an abuser coerces or attempts to coerce an individual into having sexual contact without their consent. Some examples are attacking intimate body parts, forcing sex, sexually demeaning an individual, marital rape, or telling sexual jokes at the individual’s expense.

• Sexual assault

Illegal sexual contact that involves force upon an individual without consent.

• Verbal abuse

Harsh or insulting language directed towards an in- dividual. Verbal bullying could include name-calling, insults, homophobic or racist remarks, aggressive language, and slurs.

Nicole Moehring’s daughter and son, who has Fragile X Syndrome and autism, were both victims of sexual abuse. As a mother suffering through this unbelievable nightmare, Nicole witnessed extreme differences in the justice system of how her daughter was believed and treated well when her son was not. She also quickly recognized the distinct differences in recovery, trying to find support, and resources. Nicole and her daughter Maci founded Voices of Change 2018 (VOC18), a nonprofit organization, to begin making much needed change for children with disabilities and their families.

VOC18 is a national organization piloting their groundbreaking programs in Ohio. VOC18 is in the process of developing preventative education programs for children with disabilities while empowering parents and guardians. By sharing their lived experiences and through collaborations with other individuals, mental health professionals, law enforcement, and organizations, they are building a foundation of advocacy, abuse awareness, resources, and supports for children with disabilities.

Website: www.voicesofchange2018.org

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Email: info@voicesofchange2018.com