AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE & DENTISTRY

How is it possible that people abuse children (and adults) with disabilities?

BY H. BARRY WALDMAN, DDS, MPH, PHD, STEVEN P. PERLMAN, DDS, MSCD, DHL (HON), AND NORA J. BALADERIAN, PH.D.

"About 1,750 children die from abuse and neglect in the U.S. every year, according to federal data." 1

“Nearly 700,000 children are abused in the U.S annually.” 2

"There are reports… that children with disabilities are 4 to 10 times more likely to be abused than children without disabilities." 3 (emphasis added)

"Unfortunately, the 'dirty secret' about abuse of children with disabilities is all too true." 4 "…Children with disabilities may be perceived as less valuable than other children." 5

87% of the perpetrators of child abuse are parents or family relatives, compared to less than one percent of perpetrators who are child care providers or residential facility staff members.

There is a significant relationship between parental substance abuse and child abuse. There is a particular increase in cases of abuse of youngsters in the month of January. Limited funds are available after spending monies for the holidays.

Native American children and African American children have the highest rate of victimization. Asian-Pacific Islander children have the lowest rate.

More boys with disabilities are physically abused and neglected, but more girls with disabilities are sexually abused. 3,4,6

"Physical abuse of children has become so common place that it is only when the death of child occurs that the news media may carry the story and then only when it is gruesome." 7

AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE AND DENTISTRY

The American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry (AADMD) was organized in 2002 to provide a forum for healthcare professionals who provide clinical care to people with neurodevelopmental disorders and intellectual disabilities (ND/ID). The mission of the organization is to improve the quality and assure the parity of healthcare for individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders and intellectual disabilities throughout the lifespan.