PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE ONE OF THE MOST VULNERABLE GROUPS IN TERMS OF BEING VICTIMS OF PHYSICAL, SEXUAL AND VERBAL ABUSE ; NEGLECT ; AND FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION.

S TATISTICS  In 2011, Missouri Adult Protective Services investigated 8,543 reports of abuse and neglect involving adults with developmental disabilities.  A survey in 2012 by Nora Baladerian reported that over 70% of people surveyed had experiences abuse and neglect.  87.2% reported verbal abuse  50% reported physical abuse  41.6% reported sexual abuse  37% reported neglect  31% reported financial exploitation.

How do you define abuse? it’s more than hitting and kicking How do you define neglect? It’s not just food and water. How do you define financial exploitation? Your money should take care of you first.

D ON ’ T B E A V ICTIM ! Write your own:

To humane care and treatment; To safe and sanitary housing; To attend or not attend religious services; To receive prompt evaluation and care, treatment, habilitation or rehabilitation about which you are informed insofar as you are capable of understanding;

o To be treated with dignity as a human being; o To be free from verbal and physical abuse. o To have access to consultation with a private physician at your own expense; o To be evaluated, treated or habilitated in your least restrictive environment; o To a nourishing, well-balanced and varied diet;

B EFORE A BUSE H APPENS 1. Get informed. A. What is abuse vs a crime? B. Who are abusers? C. Where are abusers? 2. Use Plain talk A. Know the correct names for your body part B. Role play 3. Identify safe people A. At home, work, school, neighborhood

Know what to do when You think someone has abused you You know you have been hurt You’re hungry, You smell bad You don’t feel good about something that happened to you You are denied access to your wheelchair or crutches; or food and water

DURING/When Abuse is Happening Keep 2 things in mind: 1. You want to survive with the least amount of harm

PROTEST RUN Stay safe/Cooperate if you have to Find a safe person/get home

2. You want to pay attention to everything

Familiar or stranger age Name clothes gender hair Skin tone Facial hair environment smells sounds

I MMEDIATELY AFTER THE INCIDENT WHO Where When

Tell someone you trust. NOW Tell someone in authority. NOW Tell the police. NOW Call Adult Protective Services

Talk with Investigators-Be truthful Cooperate with medical personnel Talk about your feelings Respect your own privacy Revise your plan

A GENCY BASED C HANGES Empower Build Relationships Educate

Educate the participants you serve Educate the staff providing services Build relationships with participants, become safe people Build relationships with families Empower participants to stand up for their right to be treated respectfully-LISTEN TO THEM

C OMMUNITY BASED C HANGES Empower Build Relationships Educate

Educate the community on what is respectful Educate the community regarding how to report concerning situations Build relationships with community organizations Encourage inclusion Empower people to support participants with disabilities

M ISSOURI L AW

Abuse and Neglect laws concerning adults with developmental disabilities are written from the standpoint of institutions. Law providing protection for those adults living in the community is much more vague. Guardianship should not be required for the law to recognize the possibility of exploitation The law should better define abuse and neglect The law should define vulnerable people

C ONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS spx/leg_lookup.aspx Contact your local officials

RESOURCES Disability and Abuse Project Risk Reduction Workbooks Mo. Dept of Mental Health, Division of Developmental Disabilities Regional Offices Senate Bill 40 Offices County Offices find your county office atmacdds.org/macdds.org/