…but I can do something Facts and perspectives on the epidemic of abuse against people with disabilities

Nyla McCarthy Director, Catalysts for Change Institute for Ethical Leadership

Disclosure I am a person with disabilities I grew up in poverty in Eugene, Oregon I was placed in Special Education in 1968 I am a sexual assault survivor I am a physical abuse survivor I am like half the people in this room

What do we mean by ID/DD? (acronym!)

Intellectual disability A neurological condition, diagnosed before the age of 18, which substantially limits the daily adaptive functioning of an individual and is expected to continue indefinitely. Historically, an IQ level of 70 or below used for determination. Examples: Down Syndrome, Fragile X Syndrome, Prader-Willi Syndrome, Angelman Syndrome

From “Faces with Fragile X” campaign

Down Syndrome in modern life

Some images of people living with Prader Willi

Individuals with Angelman’s Syndrome e

Developmental disability A neurological condition, originating in the brain, diagnosed before the age of 22, severely impacting the daily adaptive functioning of an individual and expected to continue indefinitely Examples: Cerebral Palsy, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sensory disabilities (blind, deaf, etc.)

Two women shattering the stereotypes associated with Cerebral Palsy

On the Spectrum

Sensory disability Adaptations across the world are used frequently by people who are blind

Sensory disability Individuals who are deaf often tell it like it is

Let’s take a look at some sobering statistics (excerpted from the U.S. Department of Justice National Crime Victimization Survey)

In the United States Annually, approximately 15 women out of every 1000 experience violent crime Annually, approximately 16 out of every 1000 men experience violent crime While approximately 26 women with disabilities out of every 1000 will experience violent crime While 23 men with disabilities out of every 1000 will experience violent crime

Rape/sexual assault, robbery and aggravated assault Account for more than 50% of the violence against people with disabilities

Moving beyond crime, abuse of all types is reported every year involving 5 million vulnerable adults 2 million elders 1 million children

This means that adults with disabilities are abused almost twice as often as children and elders combined

2012 National Survey on Abuse Against People with Disabilities Findings First ever of its kind! Spectrum Institute National Disability and Abuse Project

7289 responses! 2/3 of all people with intellectual/developmental disabilities have been victims of abuse 8 out of 10 of these people were verbally/emotionally abused More than half were physically abused Over a third were sexually abused more than once 9 out of 10 who were abused were abused multiple times in multiple ways Only one third reported it

Reasons for Not Reporting 58% believed that nothing would happen 38% had been threatened or were afraid 33% did not know how or where to report

Nearly half did not recognize abuse when it occurred because it was so common in their lives and environment

What Happened to Those Who Did Report? Nothing, for nearly 53%, who said that their reports were screened out at the local or state level Arrests of the alleged perpetrators happened in less than a tenth of the reports rising to criminal level Only half of these were successfully prosecuted

Only one third of victims receive any kind of therapy for their abuse experiences

More than 70% of the abuse against individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities is perpetrated by someone known to the victim!

Let’s Bring it Home

15,000 adults enrolled in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) Services in ,000 to 4,000 children who resided in a licensed setting that provides therapeutic treatment in 2012 Total: 18—19,000 individuals served in 2012

This is 18 to 19,000 people in the Portland Trailblazer’s Rose Garden Stadium

In Oregon… More than 18,000 individuals receive developmental/intellectual disability services yet only 1538 abuse reports (adults and children) were assigned for investigation (should be 9435—12,450 based on the national average of those reporting abuse) Only 775 of those investigated were substantiated

Left: 1538 people representing cases assigned Right: 10,000 people (small end of number of abuse investigations which should have been assigned according to national data)

975 people representing the number of Oregon substantiated cases

In Oregon, Only 253 were referred to law enforcement as suspected crimes (should have been approximately 4625 based on national average) Law enforcement chose to become involved in only 33% of those which were referred to them Approximately one third of those which law enforcement investigated were successfully prosecuted, with sexual assault cases accounting for most of those

This is what 11 people, or the number of perpetrators of abuse against individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities successfully prosecuted in Oregon in 2012 looks like

775 total substantiated cases Credit: Oregon Office of Adult Abuse Prevention and Investigations 2012 Annual Report

Something to Consider 15,000 adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities will age into the senior system within years The 3000—4000 children currently enrolled in the system will do the same; estimates say upwards of 3% of the total population are being born and enrolled every year.

Why does this epidemic of abuse exist?

“The biggest disability is negative attitudes toward disabilities” People First Devaluing Distancing Demeaning Denying

The facts we have just shared suggests system’s change issues needing addressed What might some of those be?

Ignorance and lack of familiarity with individuals who have intellectual and developmental disabilities creates a lack of access to equal justice Can you identify some of the ways?

Myths (garbage) vs. Facts Which Lead to Cultures of Abuse

Your turn Small Group discussion and brainstorm 10 minutes

Abusers often target individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities as “easy prey” because they know the system often will not see them as credible reporters

People with Autism are super sensitive to stimulus which causes them to act out in violent ways

Non-verbal people are not reliable witnesses because they cannot communicate with others

Very few individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities are taught about their legal rights

Someone who is non-responsive and/or paralyzed does not feel pain as we know it

People with intellectual/developmental disabilities don’t understand the concept of sexual orientation so are not likely to know what their preferences might be

Limited social contacts lead to loneliness which exacerbates risk for all types of abuse

No one would want to voluntarily have sex with someone who is so severely disabled, especially if they also have physical disabilities

People with intellectual/disabilities are at higher risk of abuse because the current system perpetuates long term dependency on others

Parents and family members of people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities are saints to put up with what they have to put up with

People with Down Syndrome are innocent and almost always happy

Many individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities who also experience physical disabilities face communication challenges which make it difficult for them to share what is going on

People with intellectual disabilities aren’t really interested in sex, they just want to have a boy/girlfriend

The abuse reporting system is not easily accessible for the average person and a majority of abuse reports are screened out by people who may or may not have a thorough knowledge of and a consistent application of the abuse rules

What did I miss? …the things you all came up with that are not in these slides

Questions? Concerns? Closing thoughts?