Disability Abuse: Bullying at its Worst
Topic: Disability Discrimination
Author: Greshun De Bouse™ - Contact: fmlcoaching@gmail.com
Published: 2019/02/14 - Updated: 2023/10/03
Publication Type: Paper / Essay
Contents: Summary - Introduction - Main Item - Related Topics
Synopsis: Both bullying and abuse stem from an unhealthy attempt to feel empowered and in control. People often ask me why other people bully. Fundamentally, the answer is this. Bullies/Abusers engage in such behavior in an attempt to restore order to the chaos in their own lives. It is mis-directed anger at its worse.
Introduction
Let it settle in your psyche that abuse is bullying, and bullying is abuse. The two are synonymous. Abuse is marked by "repeated cruelty and/or violence towards one over whom another believes he or she can overpower" (De Bouse, 2019). Bullying is defined as "repeated and intentional harm and/or intimidation toward one whom another believes is weak" (De Bouse, 2019). The parallel is clear. As a provider of bullying prevention and recovery services, I promote the reality of abuse as bullying. Both bullying and abuse stem from an unhealthy attempt to feel empowered and "in control." Bullies/Abusers typically have a real or perceived inability to control some or all aspects of their lives. Thus, they seek to bully/abuse whom they believe they can control as a distorted means of restoring normalcy to their lives. Of course, such bullying/abuse as marked by a cycle of harmful, violent behavior that often may extend longer or to a greater intensity than even the bully imagined. People often ask me why other people bully. Fundamentally, the answer is this. Bullies/Abusers engage in such behavior in an attempt to restore order to the chaos in their own lives. It is mis-directed anger at its worse.
Main Item
Disability Abuse
As discussed in my article, Disability Bullying: Double Imbalance of Power, "disability bullying creates a double bully-bullied imbalance of power because disabled individuals are physiologically and/or psychologically less equipped to combat bullies than are non-disabled individuals" (De Bouse, 2019). Likewise, abusing the disabled is a double imbalance of power. Unfortunately, many abusers/bullies target the disabled because they believe their risk or resistance or reporting it is greatly diminished.
According to the National Center for Child Abuse and Neglect (NCCAN) (2016), "children with disabilities are maltreated at 1.7 times the rate of other children." Some of these disabled children are abused by parents or caregivers in response to the real or perceived added stress of caring for a disabled child. Others think it is sport to bully/abuse one who is disabled merely because they can. As stated previously, some bullying/abuse against the disabled is underreported or not reported because "some children may be unable to adequately verbalize their need for help" (De Bouse, 2019).
This article exists to bring awareness to abuse as a form of bullying that must be reduced considerably, and hopefully eliminated-especially against the vulnerable community of the disabled. Disability abuse is bullying at its worst because it is a double imbalance of power.
References
De Bouse, G. (2019, February 9) Disability bullying: Double imbalance of power. Disabled World.
Retrieved from https://www.disabled-world.com/disability/discrimination/gdb2.php.
NCCAN (2016). Maltreatment of children with disabilities. Prevent Child Abuse America.
Greshun De Bouse™ © 2019 All Rights Reserved. First Move Life Coaching LLC™ © 2019 All Rights Reserved.
Explore Related Topics
1 - Bias in Health Care Study Reveals Discrimination Toward Children With Disability - Study reveals children with disabilities, and their families, may face discrimination in the hospitals and clinics they visit for their health care.
2 - List of the 30 UDHR Basic Human Rights - List of the 30 basic human rights according to Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by United Nations (UN) signed in Paris on 10 December 1948.
3 - Are Human Rights a Thing of the Past? - Recently, scholars have expressed doubt that the language of human rights still animates the global fight for better living conditions.
4 - Reducing Big Companies Unconscious Bias Against Disabled People - Working for a big company or in an HR role does not lower the likelihood of showing unconscious bias against disabled people at work.
5 - Bias and Discrimination Toward Disabled Seeking Health Care - People with disabilities report having a difficult time accessing health care and often find that doctors' offices refuse to accommodate them.
Page Information, Citing and Disclaimer
Disabled World is a comprehensive online resource that provides information and news related to disabilities, assistive technologies, and accessibility issues. Founded in 2004 our website covers a wide range of topics, including disability rights, healthcare, education, employment, and independent living, with the goal of supporting the disability community and their families.
Cite This Page (APA): Greshun De Bouse™. (2019, February 14 - Last revised: 2023, October 3). Disability Abuse: Bullying at its Worst. Disabled World. Retrieved October 16, 2024 from www.disabled-world.com/disability/discrimination/gdb5.php
Permalink: <a href="https://www.disabled-world.com/disability/discrimination/gdb5.php">Disability Abuse: Bullying at its Worst</a>: Both bullying and abuse stem from an unhealthy attempt to feel empowered and in control.
Disabled World provides general information only. Materials presented are never meant to substitute for qualified medical care. Any 3rd party offering or advertising does not constitute an endorsement.