Crimes Against People with Disabilities

A Clearinghouse

"We couldn't possibly know where it would lead,
but we knew it had to be done."  

-- Betty Friedan, on the Women's Movement            

The purpose of this blog...

(FYI: This blog has a new URL: www.crimesagainstpwd.com)
   

RIP Shylae Thomas

Lorrie Thomas, 39, of Flint is charged in connection with the death of her adopted daughter and niece, Shylae Thomas. 

(Detroit Free Press)
April 24, 2008

FLINT, MICHIGAN-- [Excerpt] Genesee County prosecutors today charged the adoptive mother of a quadriplegic 9-year-old girl with second-degree murder, and five other charges, alleging neglect and malnourishment caused the death of the girl who was found dead this week in a storage unit.

Murdered: Michael Ciro Nestoruk, 41

According to the police in Vancouver, Michael Ciro Nestoruk, homeless and a wheelchair user, was found dead outside an elementary school.

From the Canadian Press: Police spokesman Const. Lindsey Houghton says the investigation into Nestoruk's death has been a difficult one for even the most seasoned officers.

Police are asking anyone who may have seen Nestoruk in the hours before his death to contact them.

"Any information, even details that people might not think are important, could be very helpful to assist detectives in establishing a timeline and putting the pieces of this puzzle together," Houghton said.

Related Article:

Man found dead outside Vancouver school remembered by friends

Article: Sexual Violence within the Disabled Community

Here is an article by Amber A. Milks outlines Sexual Violence Within The Disabled Community.

Excerpted from the article are these statistics (which could use some updating):

• Among developmentally disabled adults, approximately 83 percent of females and 32 percent of males are victims of sexual assault. Johnson, I., Sigler, R. 2000. ''Forced Sexual Intercourse Among Intimates,'' Journal of Interpersonal Violence. 15 (1).

• 15,000 to 19,000 persons with developmental disabilities are raped each year in the United States. Sobsey, D. 1994. ''Violence and Abuse in the Lives of People with Disabilities: The End of Silent Acceptance?''

• Of the developmentally disabled victims, 49 percent will experience 10 or more abusive incidents in their lifetime. Valenti-Heim, D., Schwartz, L. 1995. The Sexual Abuse Interview for Those with Developmental Disabilities.

• One study reported that 40 percent of women with physical disabilities reported being sexually assaulted. Young, M.E., Nosek, M.A., Howland, C.A., Chanpong, G. Rintala, D.H. 1997. ''Prevalence of Abuse of Women with Physical Disabilities.'' Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Special Issue. Vol. 78 (12 Suppl. 5) S34-s3

• Among persons with psychiatric disabilities, the rate of violent criminal victimization including sexual assault was two times greater than the general population (8.2 percent vs. 3.1 percent) Hidday, V.A., Swartz, M., Swanson, J., Borum, R., Wagner, H.R. 1999. ''Criminal Victimization of Persons with Severe Mental Illness.'' Psychiatric Services 50: 62-68.

• Only 3 percent of sexual abuse cases involving people with developmental disabilities are ever reported. Valenti-Heim & Schwartz, 1995. The Sexual Abuse Interview for Those with Developmental Disabilities.

• Up to 99 percent of women with disabilities who are assaulted know the perpetrator. Network of Victim and Assistance & Berkeley Planning Associates, 1997.

It is vital to remember that it can be extremely difficult for any survivor of sexual violence to report the incident or seek assistance. Victims may carry a stigma believing that they will be blamed for the assault or that they will not be taken seriously. Members of the disabled community have the additional barriers affiliated with their disability that enhance reluctance of reporting.

Iowa agency discovers 21 men, all with mental health issues, housed inappropriately

Iowa agency: Housing disabled men was criminal
By NIGEL DUARA Associated Press Writer © 2009
The Associated Press
Feb. 10, 2009, 1:57PM

It will come as no surprise if the investigation into this reveals that these men were "used" as "laborers" illegally as well.  Time will tell...

Man in wheelchair "subdued" by Chicago Police Officer

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A Chicago, Illinois, police officer who was videotaped beating a man restrained in a wheelchair at a hospital emergency room pleaded guilty Thursday to using "excessive or unreasonable force" against the victim, Justice Department officials announced.

Read the rest of the article:
By Terry Frieden
CNN Justice Producer

Thank you to Frida Writes for bringing this to my attention

Sex Abuse of Autistic Boy

Dan Morse, a Washington Post Staff Writer, reported on January 13, 2009 this story about a man charged with abuse of an 11-year old boy with autism.

Abdul Mohamed Kudsy has been charged with two counts of third-degree sexual offense and one count of sexual abuse.

Police asked that anyone who has information related to the case or Kudsy call 240-773-5422.

A Resource for People with Disabilities as Victims of Crime

At DisabilityInfo.gov , an online resource for people with disabilities, there are a number of links worth investigating.

MOPD and the Chicago Police Dept. to Hold Town Meeting

as posted on Access Living:

The Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities and the Chicago Police Department
are teaming up to host a Town Hall Meeting

Wednesday, June 11, 2008
6:30 p.m. to 8:30p.m.

MOPD Field Office
2102 W. Ogden Avenue

MOPD and the Chicago Police Department have been working together to develop policies aimed at improving interactions between the disability community and the Chicago Police Department.

You’re invited to:

·  Meet representatives from the Police Department

·  Hear about how the Police Department is working with the disability community

·  Share your ideas, questions and comments

●●●●●●●●●●●●

Sign Language interpreters will be provided. To request reasonable accommodations, contact MOPD at least 72 hours in advance of the event with your specific request at (312)744-4495 (voice), (312) 744-4780 (TTY) or ldittman@cityofchicago.org.

 

Bullycide

Bullycide: suicide triggered by relentless bullying and depression in school.

"...tragically, researchers have discovered that almost 40% of bullied students are students with disabilities."

Joyce Bender is a contributor to The Cutting Edge.  She brings this disturbing trend to our attention in her article: Bullycide: The Only Escape for Some Brutalized Children with Disabilities

Abuse: Disability Blog Carnival #36

Here, on Abnormaldiversity is a whole Blog "Carnival" devoted to the subject of abuse.

Excerpt:

Casdok didn't submit a blog post, but she shared with me a comment posted on her blog (which she'd deleted):

“C isn't special to the rest of the world, he is only special to you. He is a burden to the rest of the world and if he was another part of nature, like an autistic fish for example, would have died long ago. You just use others to keep him alive.

And C is not the kind of high functioning autistic that will ever contribute anything to mankind. But that's okay, if something happens to you they will just control him as they wish with drugs, like you should have allowed them to in the first place. He is not a complete person, he is an autistic that shits all over everything. Get over it.
You made him, put on your big girl panties and deal with it, and stop being so self centered."

Well, that's certainly abusive!