There are many social and legal obstacles that prevent persons with disabilities from accessing justice after they have been abused. These obstacles include:
In the past, people with disabilities were not routinely informed of the rights guaranteed to them by law. Many, who were chronically victimized, did not even know that society censures the types of crime people with disabilities commonly fall prey to - nor that society “has tools to end and redress that wrong.” Persons with disabilities may be considered less-than-credible victims because they have difficulty articulating the abuse as a result of cognitive or communication impairments. They are often seen as immune to pain and suffering, and dehumanized as asexual beings: “Who would want to rape them?”
The following section contains abuse fact sheets, providing summaries of the indicators/signs of abuses discussed in Section One. Also provided are checklists for identifying abuse in one’s own life and assessing the lethality of an abuser. These Fact Sheets are included for purposes of photocopying and display or distribution to consumers and their families.
FACT SHEET 1: PHYSICAL ABUSEPhysical abuse is the deliberate use of physical force for intimidation, or to inflict bodily harm. Some indicators of physical abuse or mistreatment of a person with a disability are: unexplained cuts, scrapes, and bruises or injuries for which the explanation does not fit the evidence. Behavioural signs include avoidance of significant family, friends or care workers. Other signs include a history of repeated injury/illness; delays in seeking treatment and unhealed sores and/or pressure marks. CONTINUUM FOR PHYSICAL ABUSE
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FACT SHEET 2: SEXUAL ABUSESexual abuse includes involuntary, forced sexual contact such as kissing, fondling, and intercourse. Forcing an individual to have an abortion or to submit to sterilization may also be considered forms of sexual abuse. Sexual abuse happens to boys and men as well as to girls and women. It can occur in families, in hospitals, jails/prisons, and schools. Seniors are a group of persons with disabilities often forgotten in discussions of sexual abuse. Abuse can take place with a confused senior with dementia, or confused residents in care facilities who may be approached by other vulnerable residents, visiting spouses/partners, or occasionally, by care workers. Sexual abuse can also happen to competent seniors by spouses, partners, family members, or trusted people in their lives. CONTINUUM FOR SEXUAL ABUSE
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FACT SHEET 3: PSYCHOLOGICAL OR EMOTIONAL ABUSEPsychological abuse is the infliction of mental or emotional anguish through humiliation, intimidation, or use of threats. Emotional abuse attacks a person’s feelings of self-worth and/or self-esteem. Use of verbal taunts, threats, insults, withdrawal of love/affection, or emotional support by the abuser over time affects how an individual with a disability feels about him/herself and is extremely detrimental to his/her well being. CONTINUUM FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL OR EMOTIONAL ABUSE
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FACT SHEET 4: MEDICATION ABUSEBoth over-medication and under-medication are harmful. Persons with less well understood disorders, such as Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome may visit several doctors seeking a more effective medication or more understanding/validation of their pain. Prescriptions may be filled at different pharmacies, making it difficult for a pharmacist to monitor drug interactions. Caregivers may use medication to reduce their work load, having the person with a disability go to bed earlier, be more “cooperative” or easier to care for. Extreme caution should be exercised in the care of a senior who might share medications with their spouse, or a close friend, not understanding the possible health implications. Some of the confusion seen in older persons may be due to medication rather than normal aging. The possibility of medication abuse should be considered when a person’s behaviour or mental status changes suddenly, fluctuates, or when the person shows either excessive drowsiness or extreme agitation. Medication abuse may also be considered if the person’s normally controlled pain flares up without a medical explanation. Medication abuse can be self-inflicted by the person with a disability, or inflicted by someone else, in charge of dispensing medications. CONTINUUM FOR MEDICATION ABUSE OVER-MEDICATION
UNDER-MEDICATION
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FACT SHEET 5: FINANCIAL ABUSEFinancial abuse or material exploitation is the improper use of, damage to, or loss of the resources or assets belonging to a person without his/her consent, for someone else’s benefit. The abuser is usually a spouse/partner, family member - often an adult child, caregiver, friend, or a trusted person in the person’s life. Financial abuse often accompanies other forms of abuse, such as emotional abuse, physical abuse, or denial of rights. Three factors are necessary for financial abuse to occur:
CONTINUUM FOR FINANCIAL ABUSE
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FACT SHEET 6: POWERS OF ATTORNEYPersons with disabilities and seniors may at some point need to give a family member or trusted friend a Power of Attorney. There are different types of Powers of Attorney and a Power of Attorney may be revoked at any time. TYPES OF POWERS OF ATTORNEY The purpose of a Power of Attorney is to give another person the authority to act on your behalf in matters relating to your health. The person “giving away” his or her authority is called the “donor” or the “principal”, and the person receiving this power may be referred to as the “attorney”. He or she may be called on to make decisions that arise at the end stages of the “donor’s” life, and about all matters relating to personal property and finance. The particulars of these powers vary somewhat from province to province. TYPES OF DOCUMENTS: For Personal Care: For Property: The person you appoint as your “attorney” must follow the wishes and guidelines you lay out unless it is impossible to do so. SPECIFIC POWERS: A Banking Power of Attorney is specific to one bank, one specific branch and for a specific account. A Specific Power of Attorney allows the “attorney” to complete some specific task, such as to sell a piece of property or to write cheques on your behalf. It ends once the specific task has been completed. A General Power of Attorney allows the “attorney” to make general decisions about property and finances. It ends on a date specified, or when the person becomes incapable, unless there is an enduring clause. An Enduring Power of Attorney Clause allows the “attorney” to continue to act even if the person becomes mentally incapable. It ends when the person dies, or the court appoints someone else to manage their affairs. If you are given this type of power to help a friend or family
member... A Power of Attorney is an important document, but it is also a tool that the “attorney” can misuse or abuse. Therefore, it is vital that both parties fully understand the legal issues, and know the consequences of abuse of this power. Access to someone else’s assets can be a powerful motivation to greed. Some types of financial abuse, such as theft or fraud, are criminal offences. EXAMPLES OF MISUSES ARE:
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FACT SHEET 7: NEGLECTNeglect is the often-deliberate failure of a caregiver to provide goods, services or other necessities, to avoid physical harm, mental anguish or mental illness. Neglect may take the form of abandonment, denial of food or health related services. Neglect can be self-inflicted, due to the individual’s choice of lifestyle, depression, ill health, cognitive ability, or inability to care for self (self neglect). Active neglect… Passive neglect… CONTINUUM FOR NEGLECT/SELF NEGLECT
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