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Child Abuse and Children with Disabilities
Author(s) -
Galbally Rhonda
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of family therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.297
H-Index - 19
eISSN - 1467-8438
pISSN - 0814-723X
DOI - 10.1002/j.1467-8438.1993.tb00972.x
Subject(s) - context (archaeology) , affect (linguistics) , psychology , objectification , rehabilitation , developmental psychology , psychiatry , social psychology , political science , law , paleontology , communication , neuroscience , biology
Children with disabilities experience a significantly increased risk of abuse. This paper explores the cultural context that values body perfection and tolerates violence, so that abuse of children with disabilities, in response to normal frustrations and pressures, becomes a legitimate response. These pressures are analysed as to how they affect parents and siblings. The medical model as it affects hospital organisation and the health care system and rehabilitation is analysed. The objectification of parts of the disabled child is discussed in terms of its effect on lowering the natural modesty boundaries of the child. The child with disabilities as it relates to the family is also a creator of frustration and rage. The structural issues as they apply to the external environment are presented. The paper proposes a new understanding of the child with disabilities within the family, and within the external environment, most particularly the medical system.