Ensuring the safety of deaf children in residential schools

In 1983, 75,000 to 90,000 children and youth in the United States had hearing impairments severe enough to warrant some sort of special education, and 28% of that total (i.e., 21,000 to 25,000) were in residential schools. Deaf youngsters in institutional settings are at risk for maltreatment by surrogate caretakers--foster parents or institutional child care workers. Attempts to report the abuse may produce denials by institutional administrators who do not want to believe that children under their care have been abused or who fear serious personal and/or institutional consequences should the abuse report become public. Clearly, steps must be taken to ensure the safety of deaf children being educated in residential institutions. Health providers must assume a special responsibility for detecting and preventing abuse/neglect of handicapped children for whom they are providing medical care on a continuing basis. This article will explore relevant aspects of the present system for delivery of health services to deaf children, as well as present specific strategies for detection, documentation, and prevention of maltreatment of these particularly vulnerable children.