Narcissism 3: Abuse- The Royal Order of the Chicken

Disabilities have been grouped into three categories:

• Developmental – occurring early in life and having a life-long effect on the person. Such as mental retardation, cerebral palsy, severe learning conditions, as well as various neurological conditions.
• Physical Disabilities which can be congenital or occurring later in life due to illness or an accident includes vision, hearing and speech impairments.
• Mobility Disabilities – these affect a person’s mobility or their ability to function normally, (such as back and brain injuries). These can be congenital occurring in early childhood, or may occur due to a traumatic accident such as a car, plane or train crash. Having tutored students with ABI (Acquired Brain Injury) as well as having to come through an auto accident which caused my back injury, it is almost an under statement to say, there are countless adjustments which must be made due to the
• changes imposed by the condition or disability.

The Magnitude of Disabled Abuse

• Fifty-four million Americans report some level of disability. With twenty six million indicating their disability is severe. (This was the Holmes Study of 1999)
• In 1996 it was estimated that between 4-5 percent of the American population have developmental disabilities; cerebral palsy, severe learning disorders, autism, mental retardation.
• Of those over forty-five, about eleven million women have conditions which limited their activities, compared to about nine million men who also have conditions limiting their activities.
• Consistently research has disclosed that women with disabilities, regardless of age, race, ethnic background, sexual orientation or class are assaulted, raped, abused two times greater than woman without disabilities.
• And the percent escalates for adults with developmental disabilities to between four to ten times greater.
• Children with disabilities are at a huge risk for abuse, especially sex crimes. The National Center of Child Abuse in 1993 disclosed that children with disabilities are twice as likely to be abused than children without a disability.

What Is Being Done to Stop the Abuse?

It has only been within the last eight to ten years that the Crime Victim’s Movement and the Disability Rights Movement have interacted with a common concern and a National focus. Only through education has our awareness of the crimes against the disabled been expanded.

Yet more education; more public pressure must be levied towards law enforcement and the courts to bring to justice the crimes against the disabled. The Boston Globe on June 10, 2001 reported: that in 342 cases of abuse against the disabled, only 3% ended with convictions. (That is about 18 cases). In comparison, 70% of crimes against able bodied individuals resulted in convictions). Why is this so? Many times law enforcement does not pursue the case, due to the handicapped person being considered an unreliable witness on court. Many times the handicapped person can not provide a clear statement about the incident or provide enough information to make the case bona fide.

Is There Any Way to Stop The Hurt?

When abuse is committed by a caregiver, the disabled person should have some contact person they can tell. It could be a relative, close friend, a neighbor, or someone in their church. This person needs to be willing to contact the disabled person at least once a day for a “chat.”

From working with the handicapped most of my life in one form or another, I know this suggestion will take the patience of Job, and the determination of the Apostle Paul. It is not an easy task. But it may save a person from serious injury or death.

Since most crimes against the disabled are done so, when they are alone, perhaps a companion needs to be hired to accompany them when they need to travel anywhere.

And, if the disabled person lives alone, maybe a caregiver needs to be found.

Or a good loyal, but not overly friendly dog is a big deterrent to a would-be attacker. (My father’s dog is a mix terrier, a sweet little dog, but not willing to let anyone get too near dad or me. More than once she has warded off individuals who seemed to have the intention of causing us harm).

Since the disabled are often unable to care for themselves, in a sense we all need to become our “brother’s and sister’s” keeper. By being willing to assist a disabled person if they seem in danger, we can change the “royal order of the chicken” to a caring society, in which everyone can live in safety.