ACWA Recognising the Damage: Children with a Disability living with Domestic Violence Eileen Baldry & Jan Breckenridge (UNSW) Joan Bratel (Spastic Centre of NSW)

ACWA Introduction This presentation: –Information on DV & children with a disability –Need for frontline worker response –Proposed seven step framework –Hopes for outcomes from more appropriate response

ACWA Domestic violence  The term DV, often used interchangeably with family violence refers to actual or threatened violence in a domestic or family context where an adolescent or adult family member, partner or ex-partner attempts physically, sexually, psychologically or economically to dominate or harm other adult family member(s).  DV recognised as one of the most entrenched forms of violence. It is notifiable.

ACWA Children with a disability  Nineteen percent of Australians – or 3.9 million people - have a disability  12% of young people in Australia (0-24) suffer at least one long-term impairment.

ACWA Abuse of children with a disability  Vulnerability of children with disabilities to abuse.  Understanding the scope and effects of violence.  Lack of data relating to families where there is a child with a disability.  Impact on agency responsiveness.

ACWA Impact of D.V. on the development and well being of children  No incidence or prevalence studies relating to the impact of D.V. on children with a disability.  Impact studies of D.V. on children within the ‘normal’ population have shown.  increased physiological arousal in response to generalised conflict.  Heightened aggressions, impulsiveness, anxiety and poor social skills.

ACWA Issues for workers  Children with disabilities may not be able to recognise, resist or disclose abuse.  Lack of worker experience & skill may add to this  responses to DV trauma may be confused with the effects of a particular impairment.  So although children with disabilities over- represented among abuse victims, they are under-represented in the caseloads of such workers

ACWA Indicators in children with a disability  Unusual changes in demeanour  Unusual emotional distress  Sudden loss of weight  Disability becomes exaggerated  Worker observation of violence  Disclosure by child or non-offending family member

ACWA Frontline response Why the need for a frontline response framework?  This area is poorly investigated and there is little guidance for workers  The following is derived from a generic framework and is our suggestion for one way forward

1. Develop Awareness 2. Consider Needs 3. Safety & Security 4. How to Engage 5. Respond Specifically 6. Follow up 7. Reflect Consider Consequences Action/inaction Community Links Who will? Impact of my/or agency actions

ACWA Step 1  Develop awareness of domestic violence, children and disability  Know how violence manifests  Familiar with disabilities & way they manifest  Learn about effects of DV  Clarify role of worker’s response  Know the effects of action & inaction

ACWA Step 2  Consider and notice the needs of children generally and in relation to their disability  Skill development consistent with disability  Understand communication possibilities  Assess communication capacity  Notice actions & interactions of children who experience DV and their carers

ACWA Step 3  Attend to safety  Identify what is unsafe for the child  Consider impacts of any actions to secure safety especially once worker leaves  Identify who can contribute to the increased safety of the child

ACWA Step 4  Decide if and how to engage with children and/or caregivers  Consider child’s disability & associated needs  Consider specific needs of carers  Decide on appropriate engagement  Provide an individual response  Know where to seek advice  Whether or not direct engagement with child, worker needs to be child inclusive

ACWA Step 5  Respond specifically and appropriately  Obtain information regarding available and relevant local services  Be aware of the gaps in services  Take into account what could go wrong  Know that a decision not to act is a response  Consider how responses will place the child(ren)  Negotiate how to proceed with others involved  Compile information

ACWA Step 6  Decide whether and how to follow up  Even when perpetrator removed these children need ongoing support  Continue to notice any effects upon children and family  Acknowledge importance of worker  Acknowledge significance of others who support children

ACWA Step 7  Reflect on Practice  Analyse and reflect on responses and consider what could have been done differently  Seek professional development re children with disabilities and DV  Contribute to organisational policy and practice  Contribute to domestic violence prevention programs

ACWA Conclusion  Professionals work alongside families to construct ‘solutions’ that they own and can live with  Careful listening; no assumptions re ‘what is best’ for a particular family or child with a disability  worker’s beliefs and attitudes impact on ability to respond constructively and with integrity to children with a disability

ACWA Conclusion  Children and young people with a disability are children first and have the same right to protection, to feel safe, to be consulted and to be heard as any other child or young person  Child’s right to have DV addressed. This right should be the focus of attention and not the disability