Maltreatment of children with disabilities: training needs for a collaborative response

Area of Science:

• Child protection
• Disability studies
• Social work

Background:

• Limited research exists on responding to maltreated children with disabilities.
• Existing literature advocates for a collaborative team approach.
• Current understanding levels of response team members are undefined compared to essential knowledge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the knowledge levels of parents, educators, and investigators regarding the maltreatment of children with disabilities.
• To identify training needs and interests among these key stakeholder groups.
• To inform the development of targeted training programs.

Main Methods:

• A needs assessment instrument was developed and administered.
• The instrument was tailored for three distinct groups: parents, educators, and investigators.
• Respondents reported their knowledge, experience, and training interests concerning maltreatment of children with disabilities.

Main Results:

• Respondents demonstrated a superficial awareness but lacked extensive knowledge in most surveyed areas.
• A majority expressed willingness to attend training sessions.
• Recognition of maltreatment in children with disabilities was identified as a top training priority by all groups.

Conclusions:

• Key stakeholders are receptive to training to enhance their effectiveness in addressing maltreatment of children with disabilities.
• The study quantifies knowledge gaps, guiding the creation of effective training initiatives.
• Findings support the development of coordinated and informed responses to protect children with disabilities.