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Chapter 12
Preventing Sexual Abuse
As children become more independent, they meet more people and
relate to them in many different ways. Just as they must learn to move
around the house and community safely, they must also learn about
personal safety. This chapter is about protecting children from sexual
abuse.
It might seem strange to find material about sexual abuse in a book like
this. Sadly, children with disabilities like blindness can be more at risk for
sexual abuse than children who can see, so it is important to discuss.
Keep our children safe
Nobody has the right to use a
child for sex.
• Not a relative
(child or adult)
• Not a family friend
• Not a neighbor
• Not a stranger
• Not a teacher
• Not a caregiver
Parents need to
talk about sexual
abuse with each
other, and with our
children. Talking
about it is the first
step in stopping it.
Not talking about
it only protects
abusers.
Yet it is hard to talk about sexual
abuse. In many places:
• people rarely talk about sex.
• people do not want to believe that sexual abuse happens to very
young children, so they do not think or talk about it.
• rules or customs say who should talk to children about sex, what
should be said, and when such conversations should happen.
Every child should be able to be safe from sexual abuse. Keeping
children safe from sexual abuse should be every adult’s responsibility.