Abstract
Children with disabilities or special health care needs are at increased risk for child maltreatment. This broad category covers children who have a chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional condition, as well as those with a variety of needs beyond typical physical health care, including early intervention services, special education and related services, or mental health and substance abuse services. Clinicians should understand that the presence of disabilities in a child is a risk factor for child maltreatment as well as an indication that child maltreatment has occurred. It is also important that professionals who care for children with special health care needs work with families and supporting community agencies to help ensure the health and safety of the children. This chapter explores factors that place children with disabilities or special health care needs at risk for child maltreatment and addresses the emerging epidemiologic research that characterizes the extent of this risk. The chapter concludes with practical clinical applications for this information.
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Giardino, A.P., Giardino, E.R., Isaac, R. (2022). Child Maltreatment and Disabilities: Increased Risk?. In: Krugman, R.D., Korbin, J.E. (eds) Handbook of Child Maltreatment. Child Maltreatment, vol 14. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-82479-2_15
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