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Abuse in Services or at Home
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This page is talking about when people are abused because they are vulnerable.
People can be vulnerable because:
- they live somewhere where they do not have people around them who are looking out for them because they love them - like people who live in institutions
- they do not know what their rights are and how to say no
- if they do say no, they are not listened to
The kind of abuse could be:
- physical - hitting or slapping
- sexual - rape or being touched in provate places when you don't want to
- psychological - to make you feel bad
- financial - stealing money or your things
- neglect - not being taken care of so you get ill
- discrimination- being treated unfairly because of your race, colour, beliefs, sexuality etc
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Links and Resources
The government said that councils should say how they would protect vulnerable people. They wrote guidance called 'No Secrets' to help them do this. You can link to this on the Department of Health website at www.dh.gov.uk
Voice UK is a charity that supports people with learning disabilities who have suffered crime or abuse. Find out more from their website at www.voiceuk.org.uk
The Ann Craft Trust gives information, advice and training for staff working with people with learning disabilities. their website is at www.anncrafttrust.org
Tyneside Rape Crisis Centre wrote a guide about rape counselling for women with learning disabilities
Respond have a section of their website explaining abuse. Link to it at www.respond.org.uk
Speakup have made a DVD called "Abuse is Bad" to help people with learning disabilities and their supporters understand Adult Protection Issues. You can watch part of the DVD for free at www.speakup.org.uk/abuse_is_bad.htm