PROJECT ILLUMINATION

Across the nation, chapters of The Arc and other providers of supports for people with developmental disabilities have been concerned about statistics showing that individuals with developmental disabilities are far more likely to become victims of sexual violence than the general population.  To address this issue, The Arc of Aurora, Colorado created Project Illumination, a collaborative, multi-dimension program. 

The Arc Kent County was one of seven sites awarded the opportunity to train on replication of this program pursuant to funding by a grant from the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.  We recently completed the training with team members from Grand Rapids including network180, the YWCA, and Noorthoek Academy of Grand Rapids Community College. 

   FACTS ABOUT SEXUAL VIOLENCE, TRAUMA AND PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

 ·        Between 4 and 5% of Americans have a developmental disability, including mental retardation, autism, cerebral palsy and severe learning disabilities. (LaPlante, M., and D. Carlson. 1996. "Disability in the U.S.: Prevalence and Causes, 1992." Disability Statistics Report (7). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.)

·        Negative stereotypes of people with developmental disabilities, including the perceptions that they are suffering, are incapable of making decisions for themselves, and feel little to no physical and emotional pain, increase their vulnerability and decrease their credibility when reporting crimes. (Sobsey, D., and S. Mansell. 1990. "The Prevention of Sexual Abuse of People with Developmental Disabilities." Developmental Disabilities Bulletin 18 (2): 55-66.) (Tyiska, C. 1998. "Working With Victims of Crime with Disabilities." Office for Victims of Crime Bulletin, Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime.)

·        In a five-year retrospective study of 4,340 child patients with disabilities in a pediatric hospital, 68% were found to be victims of sexual abuse and 32% were victims of physical abuse.  (Willging, J.P., Bower, C.M., and Cotton, R.T. 1992. “Physical Abuse of Children: A Retrospective Review and an Otolaryngology Perspective.” Archives of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery 118(6): 584-590.)

·        Sobsey and Doe estimate that more than half of abuse of people with disabilities is generally perpetrated by family members and peers with disabilities, and that disability professionals (i.e., paid or unpaid caregivers, doctors, nurses) are generally believed responsible for the other half.  It is estimated that approximately 67% of perpetrators who abused individuals with severe cognitive disabilities accessed them through their work in disability services. (Sobsey, D., & Doe, T. 1991. “Patterns of Sexual Abuse and Assault.” Journal of Sexuality and Disability, 9(3): 243-259.)

·        People with developmental disabilities are four to ten times more likely to be victims of crime than other people. (Sobsey, D., Wells, D., Lucardie, R., and Mansell, S. 1995. Violence and Disability: An Annotated Bibliography. Baltimore, MD. Brookes Publishing.) (Young, M.E., et al. 1997. “Prevalence of Abuse of Women with Physical Disabilities.” Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Special Issue. 78 (12, Suppl. 5) S34-S38.)