People with disabilities experience abuse at higher rates than people without disabilities. Knowing more about types of abuse and planning for safety are important aspects of abuse prevention.
Abuse can happen to anyone, however, people with disabilities are more vulnerable to abuse. People with disabilities are often not given information or education about what abuse is which makes it hard to know when it happens to them.
Learning about abuse can help a person identify abuse if it happens to them. The topics covered on this page will help you learn and talk about different types of abuse. This page also provides tools for thinking about and planning how to stay safe before abuse happens.
The Abuse Awareness and Prevention Guide and tools were developed in partnership with and funded by the Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council and the Missouri Division of Developmental Disabilities.
The Abuse Awareness and Prevention Guide was recently featured by KSHB 41 Action News and reporter Bryant Maddrick. Candace Cunningham from the UMKC Institute for Human Development and Maggie Rollwagen from Abilities First, share their insights and importance of the guide and how it can be used to support our community.
Abuse happens when a person mistreats or hurts you or misuses your things on purpose. Abuse can happen one time or it can happen many times. Abuse can take many forms. On this page, we describe four types of abuse: Physical, Emotional, Sexual, and Financial.
When someone hurts your feelings by talking mean to you, name-calling, or making fun of you.
When someone hurts your body or threatens to hurt your body.
When someone has sex with you, touches your body or makes you do something sexual without your consent.
When someone misuses or takes your money, things, or property for their own use or benefit.
To learn more about each type of abuse watch the videos below or use the Abuse Awareness and Prevention Guide to discuss types and signs of abuse with a support person you trust.
It is important for self-advocates, families and those who support them to be aware of different kinds of abuse, and be able to develop a safety plan. The guide and tools below will help you get started.
• Information on what abuse is, what are the types and signs of abuse, and what to do if abuse happens;
• Tools for thinking and planning about how to stay safe prior to or after an abuse; and
• Additional resources for seeking help and support after an abuse has occurred.
Completing the star will help people who are being abused, or think they might be in danger of being abused, and their trusted supporters, think about resources and supports available in each of the star categories that could help them develop a safety plan.
The Starter Star shows examples of the kinds of supports you might identify as part of your plan for safety from abuse. It is to help you get started planning and exploring ideas.
For more information on the different sections and how to complete a star, click here.
This video gives an overview about the information covered in the guide, who the guide is for and how to use it.
Hear self-advocates discuss examples of verbal abuse, such as when someone hurts your feelings by talking mean to you, name-calling, or making fun of you. You can also get information about how to seek help from abuse.
Physical abuse is when someone hurts your body or threatens to hurt your body. Self-advocates discuss examples of physical abuse, and information about how to seek help from abuse is provided at the end.
When someone has sex with you, touches your body or makes you do something sexual without your consent, it is called sexual abuse. In the video, self advocates share examples of sexual abuse, and information is provided about how to get help or support if needed.
When someone misuses or takes your money, things, or property for their own use or benefit, it is called financial abuse. In this video, learn about examples of financial abuse from self-advocates, and how to seek help from abuse.
When someone experiences abuse, they may seek help and safety in a variety of ways. They may want to report the abuse to the police or to a state agency that investigates abuse of people with disabilities. They may want to tell someone they trust like a friend or family member. They may want to talk to a counselor who can help them work out their thoughts and feelings about what happened. They may want to make a change to keep themselves safe in the future like moving to a new location or getting an alarm system.
The full AAP Guide will help you think through some of the steps you can take if you have experienced abuse and link you to more resources for more help and information.
The following section provides state and national resources that could help you determine your next step.
If you would like to report an abuse you or someone else has experienced, you can make a report at the following numbers.
Responds to reports of abuse or neglect for adults with disabilities 18 years and older and adults 60 years and older without disabilities, living in the community or in long-term care facilities.
1-800-392-0210 | Learn More
Responds to reports of abuse and neglect of children and youth under the age of 18.
1-800-392-3738 | Learn More
Responds to reports of financial abuse, neglect, or exploitation of persons who reside in nursing homes or board and care facilities.
1-800-286-3932
If you have experienced an abuse and would like support and information about your options contact one of the following:
RAINN provides 24/7 support, information, and referrals to local resources for individuals who have experienced sexual assault or abuse. You can call the 24/7 hotline 1-800-656-4673 or begin a live chat www.rainn.org
Provides 24/7 support, information, and referrals to local resources for individuals who have experienced domestic violence or abuse from a partner. You can call the 24/7 hotline 1-800-799-7233 or begin a live chat at www.thehotline.org
Provides information to crime victims about their rights and options. Their services are specifically designed to refer victims to the most appropriate local or national resources based on their experiences and needs. You can call the helpline 855-484-2846 or begin a live chat at the Victim Connect Resource Center.
Provides 24/7 crisis support through videophone and text for Deaf people in Missouri. To speak with someone via video phone call 321-800-3323 or text HAND to 839863
If you would like to know more about violence against people with disabilities in Missouri visit www.andwecanstopit.org
We would like to thank the following individuals and groups that contributed to the development of the AAP Guide: the Missouri Victimization Taskforce; Missouri Family to Family Stakeholders; People First of Missouri Steering Committee; and, Ed Thomas and The Arc of Missouri.
Additional resources that informed the AAP Guide:
Davis, L.A. (2011). People with intellectual disabilities and sexual violence. Retrieved from https://thearc.org/wp-content/uploads/forchapters/Sexual%20Violence.pdf
Khemka, I., & Hickson, L. (2008). ESCAPE-DD: An effective strategy-based curriculum for abuse prevention and empowerment for adults with developmental disabilities. New York, NY: Center for Opportunities and Outcomes for People with Disabilities, Teachers College, Columbia University.
Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council. (2020, August 26). It’s happening. It’s Happening and We Can Stop It Campaign. www.andwecanstopit.org
Safe Place. (2020, August 26). Power and control wheel: People with disabilities in partner relationships. Retrieved from http://www.ncdsv.org/images/SafePlace_PowerControlWheelDisabilities_2011.pdf
Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence. (2020, August 26). Power and control wheel: People with disabilities and their caregivers. Retrieved from http://www.ncdsv.org/images/DisabledCaregiverPCwheel.pdf