Dear Editor,
Over the past weeks we have been raising our concerns about child sexual abuse and specifically telling you the stories of the everyday experiences of girls and boys who were sexually abused. Today we want to tell you about children who are most at risk of all forms of abuse including sexual abuse. Children living with a disability are more exposed to abuse, especially sexual abuse. In fact, their risk is compounded by the fact that the disability makes it difficult for them to understand the heinous nature of the abuse as well as to tell their stories to anyone. Children with disabilities do require more care and many parents have fewer options of safe child care or are sometimes not sure how to identify and work towards creating a safe place for their children.
Safeguarding children with disabilities must start with the parents and must be led by parents and should include the community, service providers and policy makers. Parents of children with disabilities tend to ‘hide’ their children and this places the children more at risk of abuse. Every child needs an advocate – as a matter of fact children need several advocates to aid their growth and development without abuse. Therefore, parents, teachers, social workers/welfare officers, police officers, health care workers and policy makers are prime advocates for children and should be more sensitive to the needs of all children in particular children with disabilities. The most significant advocates for children are their parents and for a child living with a disability, their parents need to take the time to educate themselves on their child’s disability in an effort to help their child and to protect their child. It is of utmost importance that parents of children living with a disability have the knowledge on how to care and how to ensure that your children can grow up free from abuse and also achieve their potential. Children with disabilities have potential and can learn and achieve for themselves. One child whom we work with in the OneLife Too initiative was struggling academically and showed several symptoms of mild autism. This child also frequently fought with other students who teased her about her physical appearance. She avoided social interactions with others – including her parent and teachers. ChildLinK’s counsellor engaged the child in one on one counselling sessions at her school and involved the teacher and her parent in some sessions. The parent, teacher, and counsellor gave the child positive words of encouragement and affirmation to strengthen her confidence and self – esteem. This team worked together to develop an individual education plan (IEP) to help the child progress academically. The child is now more sociable and no longer involved in fights, confident and has shown progress academically. This illustrates that children with mild autism can make progress academically with the right support network. In fact, every child needs, and has a right to a support network to achieve their potential.
Parents of children living with a disability must first understand and get a medical diagnosis where this is possible to be supportive and to accept that their child has a disability and this will come with unique challenges. Depending on the disability, some parents may have to learn certain skills to care for and protect their children, such as sign language. Unfortunately, there are some parents who are not willing to accept that their child has special needs, for example, if their child is a child with mild autism. In cases where the child is not diagnosed or the parent does not understand the nature of the disability, this reduces the child’s opportunity at learning and also protection from abuse. Parents are better positioned to protect their children when they have an understanding of their child’s unique needs and circumstances.
In one case, a child living with a disability who attends a special education needs school, was referred to one of ChildLinK’s Child Advocacy Centres (CAC) as a result of sexual abuse. This child was very friendly and affectionate. Due to the nature of the child’s disability, she cannot comprehend safe and unsafe touches, sexual grooming and inappropriate behaviour. The child would often approach strangers and try to befriend them. The child befriended an adult who was employed at her school and would follow the adult around. One day while they were together the adult sexually assaulted the child. The child and parent usually have casual conversations. One day the child’s parent noticed her daughter behaving cheerfully for no apparent reason and asked what was the reason for her cheerful mood. The child, still cheerful, disclosed the matter to her parent, innocently unaware that she was abused.
At the CAC only counselling sessions could be facilitated with this child as a result of her disability. Her case cannot progress beyond a police report since she is unable to provide accurate details of the sexual abuse which is necessary for prosecution (this offender will walk free). The counsellor adjusted the methodology of the counselling sessions to cater for the child’s ability. The sessions were interactive and filled with creative games, animated short videos and role play with toys. The counsellor worked with the child to improve her understanding of good and bad touches and the people who comprise the child’s safety network. The child was very responsive to the learning and shares these lessons with her peers so that they can protect themselves. This case shows that some children living with a disability can be responsive to child protection messaging if it is tailored to their unique needs. The onus is on all stakeholders, particularly policy makers, to ensure that the resources and expertise are available in public programmes that are easy to access for any child/family.
ChildLinK is working to create a Guyanese society where every child grows up in a loving, safe, and secure family and community. Please write us with your comments and questions. Let us know how you would like to get involved in protecting children in your community by emailing us at admin@childlinkgy.org. Report child abuse by calling the CPA on 227-0979, the closest Police station, or ChildLinK on 233-3500 or email: admin@childlinkgy.org.
Yours faithfully,
Shaquita Thomas
Communications Officer
ChildLink Inc
