Sexual Abuse Risk Higher For Children with Autism
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The world needs all kinds of minds |
Individuals
with autism are much more likely to be raped or sexually abused.
Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) may be
disproportionately at risk of experiencing sexual abuse and
victimization. Two main arguments are made with regard to children with
autism and risk
for sexual abuse. First, some children with autism may be targeted for
abuse by sexual offenders who may view them as vulnerable children.
Second, when children with autism are sexually abused, they may show
this in ways that get ignored or misattributed to autism rather than to
possible sexual abuse. Because of these two issues, there need to be
reliable methods established for determining whether or not a child on
the autism spectrum has been sexually abused. Children with ASD will
have a hard time communicating that they have
been sexually abused, since many are non verbal and others have a hard
time expressing what they need.
A parent of a child with developmental disabilities can face
challenges
regarding their child’s safety in ways that are different from other
parents. It is sometimes difficult to sort out signs of sexual abuse
from typical autism behaviors, such as repetitive gestures and unusual
body postures. An adult may be at-risk to harm a child. Parents have
to become more familiar with the school’s policies about safety,
especially related to providing a
safe educational environment for children with disabilities and what
you need to know to feel secure about your child’s environment. The
prevalence and correlates of abuse among children with autism served in
comprehensive community-based mental health settings. Ignorance about their own sexuality makes them twice as likely to be
raped and three times as likely as the general population of having
unwanted sexual contact.
New research shows that early trauma is so damaging that it can disrupt a person’s entire psychology and metabolism. One
analysis of 57,000 women found that those who experienced physical
or sexual abuse as children were twice as likely to be addicted to food.
The statics for children to be sexually abused are: one out of three
for girls
with 1 out of ten for boys. In most cases of sexual abuse with
children, the child usually knows the sexual abuser and trust the sexual
abuser–this is how they get away with sexual abuse. The disabled person
needs that person to help them. And, the caregiver
can easily prey on the child with ASD telling them if they tell anyone,
they will not take care of them. Also, many times when a cognitively
disabled child/teen is sexually abused; the abuser will make it clear
that this is the only way that they will let the child be their friend.
The young girl with ASD in her teens and attractive, due to low self
esteem and wanting to be accepted by others—may be an easy target to
boys who are out for a good time. They will be her friend or make her
part of their social group—if she has sex with them. Their social skills
lack, so these predator may be allowed to abuse them.
Remember! The world needs all kinds of minds. For instance, Temple
Grandin, an autistic woman who overcame the limitations
imposed on her by her condition to become an expert in the field of
animal husbandry.. She developed an interest in cattle early in life
while spending time at her Aunt and Uncle's ranch. She did not speak
until age four and had difficulty right through high school, mostly in
dealing with people. Her mother was very supportive as were some of her
teachers. Temple Grandin, diagnosed with autism as a child, has a unique
ability to "think in pictures," which helps her
solve problems that neurotypical brains might miss. She makes the case
that the world needs people on the autism spectrum: visual thinkers,
pattern thinkers, verbal thinkers, and all kinds of smart geeky kids..
She is noted for creating her 'hug box', widely recognized
today as a way of relieving stress and her humane design for the
treatment of cattle in processing plants, even winning an award from
PETA. Today, she is a professor at Colorado State University.
I hope this information is helpful, and that your children are safe and continue to be safe.
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