Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
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Saying no to sexual violence
- Authors:
- OLSEN Angela, HARRIS Karen
- Journal article citation:
- Learning Disability Today, August 2012, pp.12-15.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
For many women with learning disabilities, sexual violence appears to be a fact of life. Data has revealed that as a result of sex education, women with learning disabilities have very low self-esteem and are often socially isolated and end up in abusive relationships. This article details an approach to ending the suffering caused by these relationships, but suggests extra support is needed to be able to deal with this problem in a confident and positive way.
A rights-based approach to abuse of women with learning disabilities
- Author:
- BROWN Hilary
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 9(4), October 2004, pp.41-44.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Provides a brief overview of abuse and protection with particular focus on women with learning disabilities, who face double oppression as the intersection of gender and disability making them particularly vulnerable to sexual violence and exploitation. Reviews some useful models of abuse, to guide practice and frame further research, and reflects the Department of Health guidance No secrets (2000), which has resulted in a coherent framework for use throughout local authorities and other statutory agencies to address abuse against all vulnerable adults.
Domestic violence and women with learning disabilities
- Authors:
- McCARTHY Michelle, HUNT Siobhan, MILNE-SKILLMAN Karen
- Publisher:
- NIHR School for Social Care Research
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 4
Summarises the findings of a study on women’s experience of domestic violence. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 15 women with mild and moderate learning disabilities who had experienced domestic violence in the previous five years, and had left the violent relationship. The study also draws on an online nationwide survey of care practitioners and police across the UK, exploring their experience of working with women with learning disabilities who had lived with domestic violence, their views on the women’s vulnerability and their reasons for leaving/staying in a violent relationship. The women interviewed reported that the domestic violence they experienced was often severe (including the use of weapons, and violence during pregnancy), frequent and over long periods of time. All forms of domestic violence were reported – physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, financial, coercive control- and typically women would experience multiple forms at the same time. The psychological impact on the women was considerable. All reported low self-esteem and self-worth and many reported developing mental health problems (most commonly anxiety and depression). Some began to self-harm and a minority had had suicidal thoughts and/or had attempted suicide. The husbands or boyfriends of the women in the study did not usually have learning disabilities themselves, but did tend to have other problems such as mental health difficulties, drug and alcohol problems, be unemployed and/or have criminal records. (Edited publisher abstract)
The delivery of a survivors’ group for learning disabled women with significant learning disabilities who have been sexually abused
- Authors:
- PECKHAM Nicholas Guy, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 35(4), December 2007, pp.236-244.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This paper reports on the development and delivery of an effective 20-week Survivors' Group pilot for seven female survivors of sexual abuse with a significant learning disability and a separate Educational support Group for their carers.
Evaluating a survivors group pilot for women with significant intellectual disabilities who have been sexually abused
- Authors:
- PECKHAM Nicholas Guy, HOWLETT Susan, CORBETT Alan
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 20(4), July 2007, pp.308-322.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Sexual abuse has been associated with trauma, low self-esteem, anger, depression and challenging behaviours. This pilot study builds on a small published literature by evaluating a survivors group (SG) for women with an intellectual disability and an educational support group (ESG) for their carers. The SG was delivered weekly over 5 months for 20 sessions and the ESG ran concurrently for their seven carers in a separate room within the same community-based building. Participants were helped to build trust and rapport, provided with education about sexual abuse designed for their level of ability, and helped to reprocess the trauma of their sexual abuse. Both the SG and the ESG were evaluated using a repeated-measures design (double baseline, mid-treatment, post-treatment and follow up), to see whether there was any improvement in relevant clinical dependent variables associated with the consequences of sexual abuse (i.e. trauma, self-esteem, anger, depression and challenging behaviour). Improvements occurred in sexual knowledge, trauma and depression. Neither self-esteem nor anger improved for most of the SG and challenging behaviour worsened at first before improving. The SG seemed to be successful in improving sexual knowledge and in reducing trauma and depression, although challenging behaviours worsened at first before improving. There is a need for more sexual abuse/sexual education groups for men and women with intellectual disabilities.
Learning disability and sexual abuse: use of a woman-only counselling service by women with a learning disability: a pilot study
- Authors:
- HOWLETT Sue, DANBY Joanne
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 12(1), January 2007, pp.4-15.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This article reports on a pilot study in Tyneside on how women with a learning disability access a mainstream rape crisis centre, used by women who had been sexually abused at any time during their lives. It examines how the pilot was set up, criteria for inclusion, monitoring and evaluation, the outcomes for the women who accessed it and its benefits. The paper also looks at issues raised by the work and future ways of helping other providers to make their services inclusive and open to this group, and makes general recommendations.
Too little too late
- Author:
- -
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 10.11.05, 2005, pp.42-43.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
A panel discuss the case of a woman with learning difficulties whose complaint about abuse by a care worker was ignored.
Empowering another client group
- Author:
- HOWLETT Sue
- Journal article citation:
- Counselling and Psychotherapy Journal, 16(4), May 2005, pp.29-31.
- Publisher:
- British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
The author reports on her counselling work during the pilot project service provided for women with learning disabilities at the Tyneside Rape Crisis Centre. This includes describing a person-centred approach techique to address issues such as sexual abuse and self harm and how counselling positively benefited the women.
The healing starts here
- Author:
- BARTLETT Sarah
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 24.02.05, 2005, p.41.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
Reports on a project to rebuild the lives of people with learning difficulties who have been sexually abused. The project, developed by the Tyneside Rape Crisis Centre (TRCC), aimed to test how women with a learning difficulty might access a mainstream sexual assault or rape counselling service. It was winner of a Community Care Award.
Drawing a line between consented and abusive sexual experiences: the complexities for women with learning difficulties
- Author:
- McCARTHY Michelle
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Adult Protection, 5(3), September 2003, pp.34-40.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Explores the sexual feelings of women with learning difficulties, highlighting the blurred nature of the boundary between abusive and consented sex. The article is based on formal research that took place with 17 women with learning difficulties. It also draws on the author's work experience with a much larger group of 70-80 women in the context of sex education and counselling, on an individual and group basis.