Child Neglect and Abuse for Children with Disabilities - Article Example

Child Abuse and Neglect of Children with Disabilities and The issue of Child neglectand abuse for children with disabilities has gained enormous growth in the recent past as it has been seen to result in psychological and physical effects to victims, thus threatening their good health and existence. To name some, the effects range from the victim having socials issues, developing cognitive difficulties, poor emotional and mental wellness as well as having other difficulties especially during infancy. These issues can be controlled or regulated through a collective effort by citizens and the state governments to save the ordeal, without which the victim might end up living an indecent life full of self-neglect or lead to suicide. Keywords Child Abuse Child Striking Choking Infancy Maltreatment Munchausen syndrome by proxy Child Abuse and Neglect of Children with Disabilities Concerns have risen in the recent past over the abuse and neglect of children with disabilities in the society, a factor that has called societies to implement measures for protecting such children (Hunt, 2014). Safeguarding the wellbeing of such children is a right to them as it helps them grow and develop to maturity in a safe world. Children with disabilities or other chronic health issues stand high chances of being abused. Those without disabilities can develop some as a result of abuse. Disabilities put many children at the risk of being abused since their caretakers and parents get stressed and frustrated while paying special attention and concern to them. Identifying the different acts of maltreatment to the children is so helpful in the fight against abuse and neglect and should be advocated by all humanity to make even the less fortunate feel as part of the society. This paper focuses on addressing the effects of imposing the different forms of child abuse to children with disabilities and the appropriate measures to be taken to enhance the protection and safeguarding of the interests of such children. Child abuse involves indulging in activities that put or leaves a child at the risk of getting harm (Hunt, 2014). It may take different forms ranging from physical, psychological, social, or even sexual abuse. Failure to provide the disabled children with their necessities, also known as neglect, is also considered a form of abuse. There also exists another form of child abuse known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy in which a caretaker or parent of such a minor induces symptoms that are exaggerated to a child in a manner that other people may think they have medical issues (Sorrentino, 2006). This could be achieved through falsification of medical records, lying or even the induction of symptoms through the use of medicines and other toxic components, making the doctors employ varied means of saving the lives of such children. To some extremes, such children may be subjected to unnecessary surgeries or admission in hospitals for reasons that could have been avoided. In most cases, abuse of children with disabilities occurs within their families, with their parents and other relatives failing to appreciate such children as they perceive them a burden to some extent (Roesler & Jenny, 2008). Rosler and Jenny state that the mistreatment and neglect of children with disabilities is most prevalent in families struck by poverty. This happens as a result of such factors as lack of sufficient resources to take special care for the disabled children, drug and alcohol abuse among others. Cases of child maltreatment have escalated with child protection agencies receiving millions of reports on child abuse, with only a little of the cases being investigated (ISPCAN Asia Pacific Regional Conference, 2013). The global recession has also affected most states denying them an opportunity to increase their budgets for child welfare organizational programs. Lack of sufficient resources is increasingly stretching the agencies that protect the welfare of children with disabilities too thin to afford proper services and protection to the children and their families. When focusing on the abuse and neglect of children with disabilities, one should start by looking at the early stages of a child’s existence commonly known as the infancy stage (Helton & Bruhn, 2013). At the early stages of life, a child is perceived more vulnerable to neglect and abuse as a result of the dependency they have to their parents and those surrounding them. At this age, every child requires much attention, and all their needs should be met as expected. Having disabilities further escalates the chances of being neglected and abused as it requires for special attention to be paid in nurturing such an infant which can be frustrating. This puts the child at high risk of getting abused in that the adults around the child could deny them adequate facilities to meet their needs. Denial of the facilities that meet the educational, physical or emotional need of a child is an example of factor that will hinder the later stages of a child living with disabilities (Helton and Bruhn). Other forms of abuse that infants are subjected to includes physical aggression as directed to the by the seniors surrounding them. This could be in the form of striking, burning or even choking as witnessed from different parts of the society. Finally, some could be subjected to sexual abuse in the form of penetration, caressing and exposure to sexuality at their early stages. Many associate their acts to the fact that children with disabilities may not have the knowledge or the capability to report cases of abuse to the relevant authorities (Hunt, 2014). Abuse of children with disabilities may take different forms ranging from failure to feed them to the induction of physical harm through such activities as punishments and shaking. Abusing and neglecting children during their infant stages could be termed the most severe due to the fact that at this stage, they are most delicate. The severity of consequences a child is subjected to determines the impact of the abuse or neglect (Rosler & Jenny, 2008). However, complete separation of the physical, developmental and psychological as well as societal consequences cannot be achieved. Such consequences as damage to the brain of a growing child can result to psychological repercussions such as emotional complications or simply put cognitive delays (Waldman, Cannella & Perlman, 2009). During infancy, difficulties could be the major cause of neglect and abuse to this category of children. It is important for caregivers and parents to note that the consequences of neglecting and abusing children at this stage could pose long-term effects that can endure through the life of such a child. Child neglect and abuse can also result to sociological effects to the child’s cognitive functioning. Social issues define any behavior that is not acceptable in the society or which does not meet the standards of the society governing the way people should handle children with disabilities (Wilson, 2010). Some issues that members of the society should address include sexual promiscuity, drug and alcohol use and teenage pregnancies among others. Reports and other related researches indicate that the highest number of children with disabilities victimization cases emerge from the societies in which cases of drug and alcohol abuse are paramount (Iwaniec, 2006). Studies examining the correlation between alcoholism and child abuse have emerged which seek to analyze the root course of this menace. Alcoholism has been seen to lead victims into various activities, which in most societies are termed inappropriate and unacceptable. Victims develop a negative attitude towards accomplishment of daily tasks, working under the influence of alcohol at some instances that can result to individuals acting in very strange and aberrant way. Where drug abuse and use has taken its roots in a family, the children tend to suffer physical, emotional and psychological torture as a result of parent neglect and abuse. In the event of children having some of the disabilities, they will often tend to be mistreated as they are considered a liability rather than an asset (Waldman, Cannella and Perlman, 2009). Measures should be taken to save such children from the menace as they also want to feel as part of the society and as well enjoy their lives on earth. In conclusion, the concept of child abuse and neglect has been seen as a controversial concern which the society must address and deal with regularly. It is a concept that individuals should study for them to comprehend the effects that it can impose on the victims. Neglect and abuse to children with disabilities can result to many consequences. Mental torture, low self-esteem, self-denial and other effects including death are some of the consequences of this act. From a psychological view, these actions have been seen as causes of difficulty to infants, poor emotional and mental wellbeing, social complications and cognitive difficulties. Most difficulties that children with disabilities go through could be associated to the neglect and abuse they get from the people around them. Such factors as failure to provide these kids with the basic necessities, inducing physical punishments such as striking, sexual abuse and others such as shaking impacts the emotional, psychological and physical wellbeing of such a child throughout his life. These factors could worsen the situations by imposing the child to mental disorders and other related complexities. Social issues could also result from the consequences the child suffers at their infancy stages due to factors such as drug and substance abuse by the people around. It is, therefore, crucial for a collective effort by the society and the government to be implemented to take care of the children with disabilities. This will be in an effort to make them feel a part of the society like any other human being. References Helton, J. J., & Bruhn, C. M. (2013). Prevalence of Disabilities and Abilities in Children Investigated for Abuse and Neglect. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 7(5), 480-495. doi:10.1080/15548732.2013.843497 Hunt, K. (2014). Safeguarding children- the need for vigilance. Practice Nurse, 44(6), 18-22. Iwaniec, D. (2006). The Emotionally Abused and Neglected Child: Identification, Assessment and Intervention: A Practice Handbook. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons. ISPCAN Asia Pacific Regional Conference (9th:2011: New Delhi), & Srivastava, R. N. (2013). Child abuse and neglect: Challenges and opportunities. New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers. Roesler, T. A., & Jenny, C. (2008). Medical Child Abuse Beyond Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy.Elk Grove Village: American Academy of Pediatrics. Sorrentino, R. (2006). Playing Sick? Untangling the Web of Munchausen Syndrome, Munchausen by Proxy, Malingering, and Factitious Disorder. Psychiatric Services, 57(1), 149-149. Waldman, H., Cannella, D., & Perlman, S. (2009, August). Invisible and Unseen Disabilities. The Exceptional Parent, 39(8/9), 60-63. Retrieved July 5, 2014, from Childrens Module. (Document ID: 1889930501). Wilson, D. (2010). Health Consequences of Childhood Sexual Abuse. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 46(1), 56-64. Retrieved April 3, 2012, from Health Module. (Document ID: 1943891251). Read More