Exploration of the Relationship between Severe and Complex Disabilities and Child Sexual Abuse: A Call for Relevant Research

ABSTRACT

Despite the awareness that children with severe and complex difficulties experience child sexual abuse (CSA), the development of research in this area is still in its infancy. This call for relevant research seeks to identify the main gaps in knowledge in order to inform future debate, potential research questions, and raise issues for practice. Themes are identified relevant to researchers and practitioners globally. These include the complexity and duality of definition: recognition of CSA; barriers to communication with children and between services; diversity of segregated and inclusive settings; interaction of age and gender; adult and peer abuse in institutions; sexuality and disability; and intrusive care and medical practices. Recommendations for future research and practice in creating safe environments are provided.

KEYWORDS:

• Disability
• victimization
• special needs
• child abuse

Disclosure of interest

The authors have no financial or personal relationships that might bias this work.

Ethical standards and informed consent

As this was a review of literature no ethical approval was required.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ian Barron

Ian Barron, DEdPsy, is the director of the Center of International Education, College of Education, University of Massachusetts.

Stuart Allardyce

Stuart Allardyce is a Director at the UK child protection charity and National Manager of Stop It Now Scotland. He is a visiting researcher at Strathclyde University.

Hannah Young

Hannah Young, CPsych, is a psychotherapist working in private practice in Dundee, Scotland.

Rebecca Levit

Rebecca Levit received her B.A. in psychology from Wesleyan University. She is a current graduate student in the school counselor education program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and expects to receive both her M.Ed. and Ed.S. in the spring of 2020.