preventing child sexual abuse 169
Why are deaf children at risk for sexual abuse?
All children are at some risk for sexual abuse because they must trust
adults and older children, and depend on them for care. Children are
taught that ‘good children’ do as they are told. This makes it difficult to
say no to adults. Very young children also have no way to know how
adults normally behave, or what is acceptable adult behavior.
Deaf children are especially at risk for sexual abuse because:
• Society, in general, values people with disabilities less than others.
So an abuser may think it is okay to use a deaf child for sex. And
because girls are usually valued less than boys, deaf girls are valued
even less than deaf boys. So deaf girls are most at risk.
` • Deaf people use touch to communicate — for example, to get
someone’s attention. A deaf child may think someone’s touch is okay
even if it is not.
• Deaf children have less information than hearing children, but are
just as curious. They may also be
isolated or feel lonely, which
I want Radha to be
makes them easy targets
for abusers.
• Deaf children who have
limited communication
safe. But how can I
teach her to protect
herself? My mother
never talked to me
about this.
may have learned to
do what others want
without asking why.
• Deaf children
who have limited
communication
skills may not fully
understand what you
tell them about their
I know what you
mean. My daughter
Mishiri also can’t
hear well. And I’m
never sure if she
understands me. Can
we think of ways to
explain this to them?
safety.
• Limited communication
also makes it harder for deaf children to tell anyone about abuse.
Someone may abuse a deaf child because he knows she will not be
able to speak about the experience. Deaf children may only be able
to communicate with family members or others who look after them.
If the abuser is also a family member, caregiver, or teacher, the child
may not feel safe telling anyone.
Helping Children Who Are Deaf (2004)