The Disabled Persons Protection Commission

“ The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) … defines child abuse and neglect as, at minimum: "Any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation"; or
 "An act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm."” (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and Administration for Children & Families, "Definitions of Child Abuse

Maltreatment/abuse- Maltreatment and abuse are an act of cruel or inhumane treatment, within the family, outside of family, in a care setting or by a stranger. It is when a person puts someone in harms way or inflicts pain on someone: physically, emotionally, intellectually or sexually.

When children come into the custody of DCFS and are placed into Foster Care they are scared, confused, lonely, and usually conditioned not to tell when they are being mistreated. Most of the children that come into “the system” have learned to accept abuse as normal or natural and are unaware that they are even being mistreated. Therefore, when they are placed in homes where this is occurring it is not in their nature to speak up. Once they are removed from their parents, they are solely reliant on the department for their protection and it is the department’s responsibility to provide that protection which has not always been fulfilled by the department or the foster care agencies. The department should be making reasonable efforts to provide proper services

A child may be taken into care because they are being physically or sexually abused. Physical abuse is when a child is purposely hurt and tortured by their parents/ guardian. E.g. burning a child or wounding them. “Children who are physically abused suffer violence such as being hit, kicked, poisoned, burned,

The civil definitions used in child and family law are defined in the Children Act 1989 as significant harm to a child. Emotional abuse includes the failure of a caregiver to provide an appropriate and supportive environment. It includes acts that have an adverse effect of the emotional health and development of a child, e.g. ridiculing, threatening, intimidating and discriminating. Examples of emotional abuse are ignoring the child’s need to interact, failing to express positive feelings to a child, showing no emotion. Denying the child opportunities for interacting and communication with others, also bullying or frightening a child, persistently telling them that they are useless (World health organisation) Physical abuse is defined in Working together 2015 as: A form of abuse which may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may be caused when a parent/carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces, illness in a child. Sexual abuse is defined by

Abuse is defined as any injury, physical or mental, that is not caused by an accident. Neglect is defined as a child/children whose parents have abandoned them or who are not providing the basic care a child needs. Dependency is defined as a child/children whose parents have ignored, where not able to provide or denied basic care to the point the state is asking for custody of the

Physical abuse: Physical abuse is when an individual is being physically harmed by the people who are responsible for their care

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the failure to provide for a child’s basic physical, emotional, and educational needs or to protect a child (ages 0-12) from harm or potential harm is defined as maltreatment (2015). Any words or action by a caregiver or parent that causes harm, potential harm, or threatens harm whether deliberate or intentional against a child takes the definition a step further (2015).

Child maltreatment: “Federal law defines child abuse and neglect as any recent act, or failure to act, on the part of a parent or caretaker that results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation, or an act or failure to act that presents an imminent risk of serious harm to a child” (“Child Abuse and Maltreatment,”

National Center of Elder Abuse states, “Physical abuse is defined as the use of physical force that may result in bodily injury, physical pain, or impairment. Physical abuse may include but is not limited to such acts of violence as striking (with or without an object), hitting, beating, pushing, shoving, shaking, slapping, kicking, pinching, and burning”. And “Sexual contact with any person incapable of giving consent is also considered sexual abuse. It includes, but is not limited to, unwanted touching, all types of sexual assault or battery, such as rape, sodomy, coerced nudity, and sexually explicit photographing”.

Each state has their own policies and definitions for abuse and neglect. The National Research Council is recommending that they define abuse and neglect as “physical abuse, sexual abuse, physiological neglects, and emotional maltreatment” (Emery & Laumann-Billings, p. 122.) Followed by dividing the forms of family abuse of maltreatment vs. violence.

Physical abuse is a form of a neglect it is when the parents or care givers are not

Childhelp.org defines child abuse as: when a parent or caregiver, whether through action or failing to act, causes injury, death, emotional harm, or risk of serious harm to a child. There are many forms of child maltreatment, including neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, exploitation, and emotional abuse.

Child abuse or neglect includes sexual abuse or sexual exploitation. Sexual exploitation includes the following conduct by a person responsible for the child’s welfare: Allowing, permitting, or encouraging a child to engage in prostitution. Allowing, permitting, or encouraging a child to engage in actual or simulated activities of a sexual nature that are prohibited by criminal statute. Emotional abuse is mental injury means a serious injury to the child as evidenced by an observable and substantial impairment in the child’s ability to function in a developmentally appropriate manner and the existence of that impairment is supported by the opinion of a qualified expert witness.” (Giardino, 2010).

Legal protections for disabled people in America are essential because disabled people face overwhelming discrimination, and the legislation helps provides equality in an unfair world.