Work & Play Disability Community Center

Hey momma. We see you. Everyone else … nothing will come out of this … maybe with the video … here are the facts.

Children with developmental disabilities are abused at rates 3 to 4 times higher than their peers. Some studies show nearly 1 in 3 disabled children experience some form of abuse before adulthood. Kids who are nonverbal are at even greater risk because they cannot always report what happened in ways the system accepts. (American Academy of Pediatrics)

The highest rates of reported child abuse overall are often found in states with larger child welfare reporting systems like Texas, California, and Florida, but there is no reliable national tracking system specifically for abuse of children with developmental disabilities in schools. That alone should scare people.

The most vulnerable ages are young children ages 0 to 4 and disabled teens ages 12 to 17. These are the years when communication barriers, dependency, isolation, and behavioral misunderstandings are the highest. (Office of Justice Programs)

And here’s the part nobody wants to say out loud.

Almost nothing happens. AND NOTHING HAPPENS.

Schools investigate themselves.
Administrators protect districts.
Cases get buried under “behavior plans.”
Bruises become “incidents.”
Trauma becomes “miscommunication.”
And if your child is nonverbal or intellectually disabled, good luck getting anyone to believe them in court.

People love awareness until accountability starts.

Parents are forced to become detectives, therapists, advocates, lawyers, and witnesses while being told they are “too emotional.”

Children with disabilities deserve the same protection, dignity, and justice as every other child.

Right now, they do not get it. FACTS. Those of you reading this all the way to the end —- you are a hero. Please help us stand up for the most underrepresented and underserved … humans with DD.