KARA reports on the issues of child abuse.
This article submitted by KARA volunteer Akhila Koneripalli
All Adults Are The Protectors of All Children
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Disabled children are 3 to 10 times more likely to be abused than children without disabilities.
Parenting a child with disabilities is stressful. Frustrated by a child’s seemingly endless difficult behavior can wear down parents with the greatest coping skills.
Alcohol can make parenting in stressful situations dangerous to the child. Single parents have the hardest time and need the most help.
Being out in the real world can be even more dangerous for vulnerable children. Children with intellectual disabilities are at greatest risk when away from home.
They may have difficulty with speech, hearing, or understanding social cues, making them more likely to be sexually abused and victims of crime.
How do we help?
- Be the best friend you can be to the parent struggling with parenting a disabled child. A caring friend offering a listening ear can make stress more manageable.
- Helping parents of children with disabilities find and develop relationships with local service agencies (like Pacer). Here they can learn stress relieving techniques and become educated in handling a belligerent child. For further assistance, recommend support groups for parents with disabled children (like BAYADA).
For the child, stay informed. Know the signs of possible abuse such as unusual behavior in the child, visible wounds/scars, etc. Know the signs of possible neglect such as starvation and unsanitary physical appearance.
For the Parent,
- Know what your child is doing when not in your direct care and know their surroundings, including people and potential threats.
- Remind the child of safe adults that he or she can go to. Teaching children at a young age about basic safety will make them more aware identifying when it looks like bad things might happen.
Support KARA’s efforts to heal childhood trauma, help children who need it the most, find Crisis Services Here, Find support on social media Here.