Zero Tolerance Initiative to End
Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation against Floridians with Developmental Disabilities
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Zero Tolerance Initiative
"Maltreatment of people with disabilities takes many forms. It can explode in a moment of violence, or it can fester through decades of neglect. It can be the work of unrepentant thugs who take pleasure in inflicting pain, or well-respected policy makers who fail to take necessary action. Violence and abuse are as tangible in the crushing of dreams and the denial of humanity as in the spilling of blood and flowing of tears."¹
National statistics reveal that nearly 90% of individuals with developmental disabilities may be the victims of abuse, neglect, or exploitation at some point during their lives. Since many of these individuals are non-verbal and often have significant physical impairments, this population is particularly vulnerable to these types of crimes.
The state of Florida launched the Zero Tolerance Initiative in September 2003 as a means by which to combat sexual violence committed against persons with developmental disabilities. Since that time, the Zero Tolerance Initiative has expanded to now serve as our Agency's aggressive and proactive multi-pronged approach to dealing with the national problem of all forms of abuse, neglect, and exploitation committed against individuals with developmental disabilities.
The Zero Tolerance Initiative is carried out in partnership with service providers, family members, consumers, and other stakeholders within the disability community. A number of Zero Tolerance related activities and events have already taken place involving training and education efforts, monitoring and quality assurance activities, including changes to administrative rules, operating procedures, and Florida Statutes. These continuing activities are intended to prevent occurrences of abuse, neglect, and exploitation involving this vulnerable population and facilitate quicker identification and reporting of potentially harmful situations and environments when they do arise.
While we have made significant progress in our prevention efforts thus far, much work remains to be done. With the input of our various stakeholder groups, a detailed action plan has therefore been developed to define and direct the activities associated with our Zero Tolerance Initiative for many years to come.
Since we recognize that in order to succeed in our efforts to protect persons with developmental disabilities from maltreatment, we ask that you take a few moments to check out the information posted here on the Zero Tolerance website. If you have questions or wish to submit comments which would help us in our efforts to combat incidences of abuse, neglect, and exploitation committed against Floridians with developmental disabilities, please send us an e-mail via our suggestion box. Also, if you happen to come across any resources or materials which might be appropriate for posting on this Internet site, please let us know.
We sincerely appreciate your interest in this important issue and hope you will join us in our efforts to ensure the best possible outcomes for those individuals we are devoted to serving.
(Sobsey, Dick. Foreword. "Combating Violence & Abuse of People with Disabilities: A Call to Action." By Nancy Fitzsimmons. Baltimore, Maryland: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company, 2009. ix-xii.)
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Action Plan
View the Zero Tolerance Initiative Action Plan.
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Overview: Understanding the Nature and Scope of the Problem
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Common Signs and Symptoms of Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation
Perhaps the most difficult aspect of recognizing the signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect is that individuals with developmental disabilities may exhibit certain physical and/or behavioral traits due to the nature of their disability. Therefore, it is very important to recognize changes in behavior or health (particularly those not typically associated with the individual's disability) as potential abuse indicators. It is also important to note that there is no universal response to abuse or neglect.
Above all else, be mindful that any sudden change in the physical, behavioral, or financial status of someone with a developmental disability may be the result of past or ongoing incidences of abuse, neglect or exploitation.
While each victim of abuse, neglect, or exploitation will respond differently, the available research data reveals that the presence of certain physical and behavioral indicators (described in greater detail below) are highly correlated with abusive situations and environments.
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Prevention and Safety Planning
While it is important to understand all of the issues surrounding abuse, neglect, and exploitation committed against persons with developmental disabilities, the ultimate goal of the Agency's Zero Tolerance Initiative is to prevent such abuse, neglect, and exploitation before it has the chance to even occur.
The following information will identify a number of ways in which you can assist persons with developmental disabilities decrease the likelihood that they will ever have to experience abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The purpose of this section is to learn how you can help prevent abuse, neglect, and exploitation, and how you can plan pro-actively to limit situations where they may occur.
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Reporting Known or Suspected Cases of Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation
Any person who knows, or has reasonable cause to suspect, that a person with a developmental disability is being abused, neglected, or exploited by a relative, caregiver, or household member or, in the case of self-neglect, by themselves, is required to report such knowledge or suspicion to the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-96-ABUSE (or 1-800-962-2873).
Failure to report known or suspected cases of abuse, neglect, or exploitation is a crime in Florida. When in doubt, report it; it is always better to make a mistake on the side of caution in order to help protect the health, safety, and welfare of people who may not be able to protect themselves. Reports should be made even if the incident happened a long time ago or took place in a school.
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Relevant State Laws, Rules, and Policies
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Training & Education Opportunities for Caregivers
The official APD Zero Tolerance training (required of our service providers) is now available in both classroom and web-based mediums. For more information about these training opportunities, please visit APD's training page http://apd.myflorida.com/training/ where you may access web-based courses and learn about free classroom training opportunities related to persons with developmental disabilities. Some of the courses are required for staff to complete, if they work with persons with disabilities. Self-advocates, family members, and others who may be interested in working in this area or merely interested in learning, are welcome to take these courses.
In addition, several other comprehensive web-based training programs on this subject are also available and may be accessed by clicking on their respective links below:
The slideshow presented at the 2008 Family Cafe Conference, explores the factors behind the alarming prevalence of abuse, neglect, and exploitation committed against individuals with developmental disabilities, identifies common characteristics of perpetrators, provides tips for detecting and reporting the signs and symptoms of potential maltreatment, and offers concrete safety and prevention strategies that parents, caregivers, and self-advocates can implement immediately. It also provides an overview of the Agency's Zero Tolerance Initiative.
APD Lending Library
Research has demonstrated that consumer education and empowerment is the single most effective means by which to prevent abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Therefore, the Agency in the process of seeking grant money to purchase a set of consumer education materials (to be housed within each area office) for the purposes of creating a lending library whereby providers, area staff, families, self-advocates, waiver support coordinators, etc. can borrow these materials for use with audiences comprised of persons with developmental disabilities.
More information the APD Lending Library will be posted here on our website when these materials are available for "check-out".
Additional Resources
Additional links to Internet sites which offer information and resources pertaining to abuse, neglect, and exploitation of persons with developmental disabilities.
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