Childhood Disability-Related Abuse: A Retrospective Proof-of-Concept Study.

Although the phenomenon of disability-related abuse has been well-documented in adults with disabilities, the occurrence of disability-related abuse in childhood has not been studied. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to establish proof of concept for childhood disability-related abuse. American adults (n = 485) retrospectively report on physical, sexual, and disability-related abuse that they experienced before the age of 18. The sample consisted of 382 participants with no disability, 55 participants with an adult-onset disability, and 48 participants with a childhood-onset disability. Disability-related abuse was conceptualized as involving either (a) the denial of assistive technology or (b) the denial of care, permission, or assistance with an activity of self-care. Childhood denial of assistive technology was rare in all groups (1.3%-2.1%), but denial of care, assistance, or permission was significantly higher in the childhood-onset disability group (20.8%) than either the adult-onset (7.3%) or no-disability (6.5%) groups. The three groups did not significantly differ in the rates of reported childhood physical or sexual abuse. This study provides preliminary proof-of-concept evidence for childhood disability-related abuse, particularly denial of care.

Adverse childhood experiences and preschool suspension expulsion: A population study.

BACKGROUND: Preschool suspension and expulsion rates are typically based on teacher reports, and don't simultaneously account for adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). OBJECTIVE: To examine estimates in the United States of parent-reported preschool suspension and expulsion rates, in the context of ACEs. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Parents of children aged 3-5 years old (N = 6,100) in the 2016 National Survey of Children's Health dataset. METHOD: We reported the prevalence estimates of preschool suspension and expulsion, and estimated the unique variance of ACEs as risk factors using weighted sequential logistic regression. RESULTS: An estimated 174,309 preschoolers (2.0%) were suspended, and 17,248 (0.2%) children were expelled annually. If divided by 36 school weeks, the instances of weekly suspension and expulsion were at least 4,842 and 479 respectively. Controlling for previous risk factors (i.e., age, gender, race, ethnicity), the odds ratio increased by 80% for every unit of ACEs increment. Children were more likely to be suspended or expelled if they had domestic violence (OR = 10.6, p <  .001), living with mental illness (OR = 9.8, p <  .001), adult substance abuse (OR = 4.8, p <  .001), and victim of violence (OR = 4.5, p =  .004), living in high poverty (OR = 3.9, p =  .001), divorced parents (OR = 3.3, p =  .001), and parent incarceration (OR = 3.0, p =  .009). CONCLUSION: The alarming suspension and expulsion rates call for more comprehensive outreach prevention and response efforts in preschool settings. Cross system collaboration and family support are essential to this work.