Women with developmental disabilities and sexual abuse : an analysis of the (draft) practice guidelines for Part 3 of the Adult Guardianship Act

This modified case study critically explores the issue of women with developmental disabilities and sexual abuse and analyzes the (Draft) Ministry of Children and Family Development Practice Guidelines (policy) developed in response to the Adult Guardianship Act (Part 3) Support and Assistance to Abused and Neglected Adults (the Act). This project is grounded in a comprehensive review of the literature relating to women with disabilities and abuse. The development of the Act and policy are explored in both historical and contemporary contexts. It has been estimated that women with disabilities risk of abuse ranges from one and a half to five times greater than women without disabilities of similar age. This project will posit that negative assumptions and beliefs play a major role in socially constructed myths and stereotypes that act to negate women with disabilities. The root causes of society's negative attitude towards people with disabilities are a subscription to the medical model of disability and, more generally, capitalist society which inherently devalues people with developmental disabilities. This project seeks to analyze the Act through the framework of a social model of disability. A social model of disability contends that disability is the outcome of social arrangements which work to limit the activities of people with impairments by erecting social barriers. The policy does not address major structural barriers individuals with disabilities face. For instance, poverty, lack of educational opportunities, and unemployment. The policy does however, help to create awareness of the issue of abuse among women with disabilities and additionally, their right to self-determination. Finally, the Act acknowledges that abuse is a community problem through the creation of Community Response Networks which may help to alleviate abuse through education and ultimately societal change.--Page ii.