ABUSE
DISCLOSURE
Helping
People with
Disabilities
Abuse
Disclosure
Guidelines
for
Professionals.
DEALING
WITH ABUSE
Helping
someone who
has
experienced
some form of
physical
and/or
sexual abuse
is never
easy,
particularly
if the
person has
been
repeatedly
abused over
a period of
time. The
very
manipulative
nature of
the crime
often
prevents the
victim from
seeking the
assistance
he or she so
desperately
needs to
escape the
cycle of
abuse. When
the victim
is a person
with a
developmental
and/or
physical
disability,
identification
and
treatment
becomes even
more
difficult.
The abuser
could very
easily be a
caregiver or
family
member who
has complete
financial
and
functional
control over
the victim.
Recognizing
and
confronting
that
situation
can leave a
victim with
disabilities
without his
or her
everyday
needs being
met. Not all
victims with
disabilities
are able to
understand
that they
have been
abused.
Those that
do may feel
totally
helpless.
Who can they
trust with
their story?
Where can
they go for
assistance?
For people
with
disabilities,
there are
limited
resources
for help.
The purpose
of this
guide is to
give
professionals
working with
disabilities
some of the
indications
of abuse, as
well as
suggestions
for helping.
Certainly
the warning
signs
contained in
this
pamphlet are
not meant to
be absolute
indicators
or
all-inclusive.
They simply
serve to
point out
that there
may be a
problem that
needs to be
addressed.
Should you
suspect any
form of
abuse, the
best idea is
to seek the
assessment
of a
professional
who is
trained to
evaluate
such
inquiries.
This may be
a local
police
officer, an
emergency
room nurse
or
physician,
or a social
worker from
a victims
services
agency to
name a few.
Barriers
to Overcome
There are
many reasons
that a
person with
a disability
may find it
more
difficult to
disclose
abuse than a
person who
does not
have a
disability.
Understanding
these issues
is an
important
first step
in helping
remove the
barriers to
disclosure.
Below are
just some of
the issues
faced by
victims with
disabilities.
Feeling as
though the
abuse is
their fault.
Fear
that no one
will believe
them
Fear
of
retaliation
from the
abuser after
reporting
Difficulty
articulating
the abuse
details.
Financial,
Physical or
emotional
dependence
on the
abuser.
Inability to
reach
communication
devices to
call for
help.
Fear
that they
will be
labeled as
attention
seeking,
trouble
maker,
delusional
etc.
Uncertain of
the
consequences
of
reporting.
Fear
of loss of
independence.
The
warning
signs of
victimization
and abuse
Educate
yourself on
the
behavioral
signs listed
below may be
warning
signs of
victimization
and abuse.
Remember
that these
are warning
signs of
potential
abuse.
If you
notice these
kinds of
changes in
someone
under your
supervision,
you should
discuss the
changes with
the person
as well as a
trusted
professional
or
supervisor.
These
indicators
should be
considered
with some
caution, as
they are not
necessarily
proof of
sexual
assault of
abuse. If
sexual
assault or
abuse is
suspected
based on the
behavioral
signs listed
below, an
assessment
by a
professional
with sexual
assault
assessment
training and
experience
is most
appropriate.
You can
contact our
24-hour
hotline,
1-800-675-6900,
for the name
of the
appropriate
police
department
or agencies
in your area
that can be
of
assistance.
The
behavioral
signs of
possible
victimization
and abuse
include:
Significant
changes in
day to day
functioning.
The person
may become
distracted
in a way
that leads
to loss of
abilities.
They may be
less able to
concentrate,
may neglect
their
personal
hygiene and
appearance,
and may lose
skills and
interest
that had
been well
established.
Emotional
changes,
i.e. crying
more easily,
overly
frustrated,
shutting
down
emotionally,
saying or
doing less.
Rapid
Behavior
Changes
-more
irritable
and
aggressive,
fearful/
uncomfortable
around
authority
figures. A
victim may
also become
overly
compliant
and fearful
after a
sexual
assault.
Becoming
more
withdrawn or
shy.
Becoming
overly and
inappropriately
affectionate.
Running
away.
Exhibiting a
drop in task
performance.
Regressing
to prior
developmental
stages.
Drug and
alcohol
abuse.
Demonstrating
new fears
such as
fear of
going home,
of being
alone with a
particular
person or of
a particular
gender of
persons.
Expressing a
fear of
a shower,
rest rooms,
or dressing
for sports.
Such a
behavior
indicates
fear that if
seen naked,
everyone
will know of
sexual
assault.
Sleep
disturbances
such as
nightmares,
wanting
lights on,
waking up
during the
night,
bed-wetting.
Having
explicit
knowledge of
sexual
activities
that are not
age
appropriate.
Demonstrating
increasingly
sexualized
or seductive
behavior.
Excessive
masturbation
at
inappropriate
times and
places.
Using
bizarre
sexual
themes
in talking,
joking or
drawing such
as a sudden
increase in
use of
obscenities
Exhibiting
signs of
prostitution
or
promiscuity.
A
victim’s
possible
approach for
help.
Listed
below are
some of the
approaches
most
commonly
used when
one wants to
disclose an
abusive
event or
situation.
Your most
appropriate
response is
to listen
and be
supportive.
The support
you provide
will aid in
the victims
recovery
process.
</p>
The
tentative
approach is
“Can I talk
to you
later? I
want to tell
you
something.”
This person
is seeking
absolute
privacy.
Accommodate
the person
asking you
to talk.
This may
have been
happening
for quite a
while.
Using
incorrect
words can
also be an
indicator.
“My stomach
hurts.” The
person
speaking may
not know the
proper name
for body
parts. And
when they
say they
have a
stomachache
the pain may
really be in
the
genitals. It
can be
useful to
ask, “What
kind of
stomach
ache,” “What
part?” or
“How did you
get the
stomach
ache?”
An
“inappropriate”
question
asked “Do
you have sex
with your
boyfriend?”
This person
upon
receiving an
answer is
looking to
speak with
someone
knowledgeable
about sexual
issues and
concerns.
Due to the
intimate
nature of
the crime,
he/she may
or may not
want to
speak to
someone that
does not
have
firsthand
knowledge of
sexual
issues and
concerns. A
good way to
approach
this topic
is to
acknowledge
their
question
i.e. that is
a very
important
question; do
you have a
reason for
asking such
an important
question?
“He's not
so nice,” or
“She's
nasty.”
A
disguised
disclosure
is basically
vague
criticisms
about the
person. This
may be the
start of
someone
telling you
of a more
serious
problem.
Another
example is
the vague
reference-“He
keeps me
awake at
night” This
may mean
several
things, i.e.
roommate is
playing his
music too
loud, the
roommate is
snoring, or
the roommate
or staff
person is
making
sexual
demands.
Handling the
Disclosure
Confidentiality
and the
recovery
process
Victims
who choose
you to
disclose
their abuse
to need to
know that
they can
trust you to
keep their
confidence.
Their fears
of ridicule,
constant
questioning,
or
harassment
are real.
Remember
that the
victim chose
to tell you
of the
assault or
abuse. You
need to show
your support
of that
decision by
being
sensitive to
their fears.
Victims also
need to feel
in control
of the
disclosure
process as
much as
possible to
aid their
recovery.
The loss of
control the
victim
experienced
during the
victimization
is central
to the
negative
impact of
the abuse or
assault. If
the
disclosure
or
victimization
is openly
discussed,
betraying
the victim’s
confidence,
the victim
will feel
more
alienated
and more out
of control.
Beyond those
persons to
whom you are
required to
report, the
victim
should
become a
central part
in the
decision
concerning
who else
should be
told.
Tips
for
listening to
disclosures.
Listen
carefully,
the story
may be
confused.
Use
the victim’s
vocabulary
when
talking. Do
not correct
words or
grammar.
Assure the
victim that
he or she
did the
right thing
by telling
you.
Support and
acknowledge
their
feelings.
Encourage
the victim
to tell you
or some
other
trusted
person if
this happens
again.
Develop a
safety plan
to reduce
the chance
it would
happen
again.
Consider a
medical
examination
as a follow
up for
pregnancy
and sexually
transmitted
diseases.
Medical
evidence is
vital for
criminal
prosecution.
What
happens
next?
DO:
Report
the
disclosure
to the
proper
authorities.
Be aware of
your won
agency
guidelines
for handling
disclosures.
Immediately
reassure the
victim that
you:
Believe
what he or
she has to
disclose.
Are glad
that he or
she has told
you.
Do not
blame him or
her for what
has
happened.
Will do
your best to
be
supportive
Make use
of resources
for
additional
information,
support, or
advocacy
including
the rape
crisis
center or
victim
program.
DO
NOT:
Promise
that you
will tell no
one.
Ask why
he or she
did not
disclose
sooner.
Criticize
the victim
or the
offender.
Ask for
details of
the abuse
(unless your
role I to
investigate
the
allegation.)
Don’t
forget about
YOU
Dealing
with victims
of physical
and/or
sexual abuse
can be
emotionally
exhausting.
Try to
remain aware
of your own
reactions
throughout
the process
so that you
can maintain
the level of
objectivity
necessary to
be helpful
to the
victim. If
you need
information
or support
in dealing
with the
disclosure
or report,
contact the
rape crisis
center,
victim’s
program or
any
appropriate
formal
network of
support
within your
organization.
Due to
the need for
strict
confidentiality
in these
situations,
discussing
the report
or your own
need for
support
outside
formal lines
of agency
protocol is
inappropriate
and could be
potentially
damaging to
the victim.
Be sure to
tap into the
formal
supports
available to
you.
Resources
for help
Network of
Victim
Assistance
Network
of Victim
Assistance
supports,
counsels and
empowers
victims of
sexual
assault and
other
serious
crimes and
works to
eliminate
violence in
Bucks County
through
advocacy,
community
education
and
prevention
programs.
2370 York
Road
Suite B1
Jamison,
PA 18929
24 Hour
Hotline
1-800-675-6900
TTY:
215-343-6299
www.novabucks.org
A
Woman’s
Place
A Woman’s
Place is a
domestic
violence
program in
Bucks County
that
provides a
shelter for
temporary
housing and
numerous
services and
support to
abused women
and their
children.
P.o. Box
299
Doylestown,
PA 18901
24 Hour
Hotline
1-800-220-8116
Pennsylvania
Client
Assistance
Program
(CAP)
An
advocacy
program for
people with
disabilities
administered
by the
Center for
Disability
Law and
Policy. CAP
helps people
who are
seeking
services
from the
Office of
Vocational
Rehabilitation,
Blindness
and Visual
Services,
Centers for
Independent
Living and
other
programs
funded under
federal law.
Pennsylvania
Protection
and Advocacy
A
federally
funded, non
profit
agency
responsible
for
providing
protection
and advocacy
services to
people with
disabilities.
Toll free
1-800-692-7443
Voice/TTY
877-375-7139
Deaf-Hearing
Communication
Center
Offers
legal
advocacy,
systems
advocacy,
24-hour
emergency
interpreter
services.
Telephone:
610-604-0452/610-604-0450
Lenape
Valley
Crisis
Center
Offers
crisis
counseling
for mental
health
consumers
who are a
harm to
themselves
or someone
else in
Central
Bucks County
24 Hour
Counseling
215-785-9765
Telephone:
215-345-5327
The
American Red
Cross
Offers
emergency
shelter
services.
Homeless
Hotline
1-800-810-4434
Lower
Bucks
County:
215-949-1727
Upper
Bucks County
215-348-8161
Freedom
Valley
Disability
Center
Offers
individual
and systems
advocacy,
referral on
housing and
employment,
peer
counseling
and
independent
living
skills
training.
Toll Free
1-800-427-4754
Bucks
County
Department
of Mental
Health and
Mental
Retardation
Responsible
for
monitoring
the services
provided by
social
service
agencies in
Bucks
County.
Telephone:
215-348-2940
Bucks
county
Intermediate
Unit #22
Offers
assistance
with
facilitated
communication,
for example
victims
using
communication
boards.
Telephone:
215-348-2940
Penndel
Mental
Health
Center
Provides
outpatient
services,
and
intensive
case
management
to Mental
Health ad
Mental
Retardation
consumers.
Lower
Bucks
County:
215-752-1541
Penn
Foundation,
Inc.
Offers
mental,
emotional,
and chemical
dependency
services
including
individual
and family
counseling,
psychiatric
evaluation
and
medication
monitoring,
social
rehabilitation,
case
management,
residential
and partial
hospitalization.
Upper
Bucks
County:
215-257-6551
