An Examination of Abuse Prevention

Sexual abuse is one of the most significant safety risks facing individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities — occurring at a rate five times higher than in the general population. But if the vast majority of perpetrators are people already known to the victim, are we teaching the right skills? This session reviews the data on who is actually perpetrating abuse, examines what the ABA literature has focused on, and invites practitioners to consider whether our current approach is leaving our clients vulnerable.

1. 1Objectives: Identify the rate of sexual abuse experienced by individuals with IDD compared to the general population. Describe at least two reasons why accurate prevalence data on sexual abuse in individuals with IDD is difficult to establish. Identify the primary perpetrator populations responsible for sexual abuse of individuals with IDD. Explain at least two ways current ABA safety skills training may not reflect the actual risk landscape for individuals with IDD.