Disabilities

People with disabilities can be more vulnerable to abuse and may also face barriers to getting help and support. Research shows that children with disabilities are 3–4 times more likely to experience abuse and neglect than their non-disabled peers and adults with disabilities are nearly three times more likely to experience domestic abuse than non-disabled adults.  

Every person is unique, and a person’s safety and wellbeing is not determined by a single factor, such as disability. However, there are some aspects of different disabilities that may increase someone’s risk of harm or reduce their access to protective factors. If your organisation is aware of these things, then you can better safeguard everyone in your community.

Reliance on others: Some people with disabilities may rely on carers, family members, or professionals for personal care, mobility, communication, or decision-making. This can create power imbalances, making it harder to recognise, escape or report abuse.

Communication barriers: Some people may have limited verbal communication or use alternative methods (e.g. sign language, communication devices). This can make it difficult to disclose abuse if the typical way to pass on concerns isn’t accessible.

Unconscious bias and lack of awareness: People may hold unconscious bias about a disabled person’s ability to understand what is happening to them. There may also be a lack of awareness of how to recognise signs and indicators of abuse in someone who is disabled, or a tendency to attribute changes in behaviour or presentation to someone’s disability, rather than wondering about their experiences. This can lead to underreporting and inadequate responses.

Your organisation should: 

• Review your safeguarding processes to ensure they are accessible to all.
• Train your workers to recognise signs and indicators of abuse and respond to concerns for all members of your community.
• Have codes of conduct about how to work safely, maintain healthy boundaries and communicate well with all people in your community.
• Give opportunities for disabled people, and their families as appropriate, to discuss how you can make your activities safe, comfortable and accessible for them.
• Have policies in place that promote accessibility and inclusion.
• Build accessibility into planning of events and activities.
• ️Have a sufficient number of workers to assist with each activity and ensure ratios are reviewed and updated in line with a person's needs where appropriate.
• Have an intimate care policy for the organisation and personalised care plans where necessary to avoid additional possible safeguarding concerns.
• Publicise any alternative communication formats and methods for your safeguarding policies and practices that are available and how these can be accessed e.g. Where to get large print versions of documents.
• Use appropriate language and terminology.
• Develop disability awareness with your workers through training and ensure everyone is aware of the accessibility support your organisation can offer to keep everyone safer.