Scottish Government (2014) – National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2014: Protecting Disabled Children from Abuse and Neglect.
These additional practice notes have been designed to be read in conjunction with local single and inter-agency child protection procedures and the National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland which was refreshed in 2014.
Whilst disabled children are likely to suffer much the same abuse as other children, research suggests that disabled children are 3 to 4 times more likely to be abused than non-disabled children. Research has also shown that children with communication impairments, behavioural disorders, learning disabilities and sensory impairments are particularly vulnerable.
This document will provide a summary to support the identification of abuse and harm and practice considerations to support the protection of disabled children.
