Children with disabilities are nearly four times more likely to be physically abused or neglected and more than three times more likely to be sexually abused when compared to children without disabilities.

Originally published by NALA, The Paralegal Association

The odds of abuse are increased when an individual with special needs is placed in a group home or other communal environment. Group homes are facilities that typically provide 24-hour care to individuals who have some sort of handicap or developmental disability. Other types of communal environments are psychiatric residential treatment facilities and adult daycare centers.