Sexual Abuse and Safety

by Kristina Chew · 2009-07-22 14:23:00 UTC
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Fingerprinting from http://www.clark.wa.gov/sheriff/images/finger_printing.jpg
Three recent stories about sexual abuse of individuals on the autism spectrum and/or with intellectual disabilities: a woman on the autism spectrum (in the Droitwich Spa Advertiser); a "mentally retarded" woman who is now 19 weeks pregnant (in The Hindu); twin autistic boys who were 4 at the time of the assaults (in C and G News).

And the really sobering thing in reading these stories---along with the fact that caretakers committed the abuse in at least two of the cases---is that there are probably many more than go unreported and are simply not known.

A recent New York Times article noted that not all teaching assistants---hired independently with funds raised by parents---are fingerprinted. Teachers and aides at public schools in New Jersey are fingerprinted and backgrounds checks are done before they're hired. While being all too aware of the need for adequate staffing (and also of the fact that the NYT article is not about aides for students with disabilities), safety will always be a topmost concern in the care of my son and for students and individuals with disabilities.

Kristina Chew
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