Download PDF
Semin Speech Lang 2017; 38(04): 321-332
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1604279
Review Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Preventing Abuse and Providing Access to Justice for Individuals with Complex Communication Needs: The Role of Augmentative and Alternative Communication

Juan Bornman
1   Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
11 September 2017 (online)

    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Individuals with disabilities, in particular those with complex communication needs, have an increased risk of falling victim to crimes such as abuse and violence. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) highlights the human rights that all persons should enjoy. It recognizes the importance of communication, not only as a basic human right that is essential to ensure one's protection and one's participation in all spheres of life, but also as an essential human need through which opinions, thoughts, emotions, and points of view can be shared. This article will address four specific articles of the CRPD that are essential for preventing abuse (including sexual abuse) and for providing access to justice for these at-risk individuals. These are: Article 6 (Women with Disabilities); Article 16 (Freedom from Exploitation, Violence and Abuse); Article 12 (Equal Recognition before the Law); and Article 13 (Access to Justice). Seven South African studies that focused on these four articles will be described in terms of their aims, methods, results, and clinical implications.

Keywords

Abuse - disability - human rights - justice - sexuality - violence
 

  • References

  • 1 Martin SL, Ray N, Sotres-Alvarez D. , et al. Physical and sexual assault of women with disabilities. Violence Against Women 2006; 12 (09) 823-837
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Grobbelaar-du Plessis I. African women with disabilities: the victims of multi-layered discrimination. Suid-Afrika Publiekreg / South Africa. Public Law 2007; 22: 406-421
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Kheswa JG. Mentally challenged children in Africa: victims of sexual abuse. Mediterr J Soc Sci 2014; 5 (27) 959-965
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Powers LE, Curry MA, Oschwald M, Maley S. Barriers and strategies in addressing abuse: a survey of disabled women's experiences. J Rehabil 2002; 68 (01) 4-13
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Farrar P. End the Silence. Preventing the Sexual Assault of Women with Communication Disabilities: Developing a Community Response. Calgary, Alberta: Technical Resources Centre; 1995
    Google Scholar
  • 6 Powers LE, Hughes RB, Lund EM. Interpersonal Violence and Women with Disability: A Research Update. Harrisburg, PA: VAW-Net, a project of the National Resource Centre on Domestic Violence/Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence; 2009
    Google Scholar
  • 7 Coetzee C. An Explorative Study of the Training Needs for Investigating Officers Interviewing Young Victims of Sexual Abuse [master's dissertation]. Stellenbosch, South Africa: Stellenbosch University 2005
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 United Nations (UN). Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities, 2006. Available at: https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities.html . Accessed July 7, 2017
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 United Nations (UN). Together possible: gearing up for the 2030 Agenda. 2016 . Available at: https://undg.org/document/together-possible-gearing-up-for-the-2030-agenda/ . Accessed July 7, 2017
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Johns R. Step by Step: Empowering Teachers and Care Staff to Facilitate Sexuality, HIV and Aids Education. Cape Town, South Africa: Western Cape Forum for Intellectual Disability; 2010
    Google Scholar
  • 11 Bornman J. Accessing justice via key role players: a view from South Africa. In: Bryen DN, Bornman J. , eds. Stop Violence against People with Disabilities! An International Resource. Pretoria, South Africa: Pretoria University Law Press; 2014: 41-82
    Google Scholar
  • 12 Hanass-Hancock J. Interweaving conceptualizations of gender and disability in the context of vulnerability to HIV/AIDS in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Sex Disabil 2009; 27 (01) 35-47
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Bornman J, Rathbone L. A sexuality and relationship training program for women with intellectual disabilities: a social story approach. Sexuality and Disability 2016; 34 (03) 269-288
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Gray C. The New Social Story Book. Illustrated ed. Arlington, TX: Future Horizons, Inc.; 2000
    Google Scholar
  • 15 Gray C. Social stories, 2003. Available at: http://www.child-autism-parent-cafe.com/how-to-write-a-social-story.html . Accessed 7 July 7, 2017
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Bernert DJ. Sexuality and disability in the lives of women with intellectual disabilities. Sexuality and Disability 2011; 29: 129-141
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Rathbone L. The Effect of a Sexuality Training Programme on the Knowledge and Attitudes of Caregivers Working with Women with Intellectual Disabilities who Live in Residential Care Facilities: A Social Story Approach [Ph.D. thesis]. Pretoria, South Africa: University of Pretoria; 2015
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Bornman J, Nelson Bryen D, Kershaw P, Ledwaba G. Reducing the risk of being a victim of crime in South Africa: you can tell and be heard!. Augment Altern Commun 2011; 27 (02) 117-130
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Bornman J, Bryen DN. Social validation of vocabulary selection: ensuring stakeholder relevance. Augment Altern Commun 2013; 29 (02) 174-181
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Bryen DN, Ravitch R. Emergency Communication 4 All: Picture Communication Aid. Philadelphia, PA: Institute on Disabilities at Temple University; 2009
    Google Scholar
  • 21 Schlosser R. Social validation of intervention in augmentative and alternative communication. Augment Altern Commun 1999; 15 (04) 234-247
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Bornman J, White R, Johnson E, Bryen DN. Identifying barriers in the South African criminal justice system: implications for individuals with little or no functional speech. Acta Criminologica: Southern African Journal of Criminology 2016; 29 (01) 1-17
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Beukelman DR, Mirenda P. Augmentative and Alternative Communication: Supporting Adults and Children with Complex Communication Needs. 4th ed. Baltimore, MD: Paul H Brookes; 2013
    Google Scholar
  • 24 Chown N. Do you have any difficulties that I may not be aware of? A study of autism awareness and understanding of the UK police service. Int J Police Sci Manag 2010; 12 (02) 256-273
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Collier B, McGhie-Richmond D, Odette F, Pyne J. Reducing the risk of sexual abuse for people who use augmentative and alternative communication. Augment Altern Commun 2006; 22 (01) 62-75
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Modell SJ, Cropp D. Police officers and disability: perceptions and attitudes. Intellect Dev Disabil 2007; 45 (01) 60-63
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Modell SJ, Mak S. A preliminary assessment of police officers' knowledge and perceptions of persons with disabilities. Intellect Dev Disabil 2008; 46 (03) 183-189
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 Oschwald M, Curry M, Hughes RB, Arthur A, Powers LE. Law enforcement's response to crime reporting by people with disabilities. Police Pract Res 2011; 2 (06) 527-542
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 World Health Organization (WHO). ICF: International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2001
    Google Scholar
  • 30 Thoman DH. Testifying minors: pre-trial strategies to reduce anxiety in child witnesses. Nevada Law Journal 2013; 14 (01) 236-267
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 31 Viljoen E, Bornman J, Wiles L, Tönsing KM. Police officer disability training: a systematic review. The Police Journal: Theory, Practice and Principles 2017; 90 (02) 1-17
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 32 White R, Bornman J, Johnson E. Testifying in court as a victim of crime for persons with little or no functional speech: vocabulary implications. Child Abuse Research: A South African Journal 2015; 16 (01) 1-14
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 33 Mitra S, Sambamoorthi U. Disability prevalence among adults: estimates for 54 countries and progress toward a global estimate. Disabil Rehabil 2014; 36 (11) 940-947
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 34 Hughes BR, Curry M, Child B, Lund EM, Sullivan MJ, Powers LR. Responding to crime victims with disabilities: the perspectives of law enforcement. J Policy Pract 2011; 10 (03) 185-205
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 35 Primor S, Lerner N. The right of people with intellectual, psychosocial and communication disabilities to have access to justice accommodations in the criminal process, 2012. Available at: http://bizchut.org.il/he/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Booklet-The-right-of-persons-with-disabilities-to-access-to-justice.pdf . Accessed July 7, 2017
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 36 Bailey A, Barr O, Bunting B. Police attitudes toward people with intellectual disability: an evaluation of awareness training. J Intellect Disabil Res 2001; 45 (Pt 4): 344-350
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 37 McAllister A, Bailey A, Barr O. Training in joint investigation of alleged crimes against people with learning disabilities in Northern Ireland. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research 2002; 4 (02) 21-27
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 38 Engelman A, Ivey SL, Tseng W, Dahrouge D, Brune J, Neuhauser L. Responding to the deaf in disasters: establishing the need for systematic training for state-level emergency management agencies and community organizations. BMC Health Serv Res 2013; 13 (01) 84
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 39 Hatfield RE. Training Law Enforcement in Mental Health: A Broad-Based Model [Ph.D. thesis]. Huntington, WV: Marshall University; 2014
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 40 O'Mahoney BM. The emerging role of the registered intermediary with the vulnerable witness and offender: facilitating communication with the police and members of the judiciary. British Journal of learning Disabilities 2010; 38 (03) 232-237
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 41 Bryen DN, Wickman CH. Ending the silence of people with little or no functional speech: testifying in court. Disabil Stud Q 2011; 31 (04) 1-24
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 42 White R. Testifying in Court as a Victim of Crime: Vocabulary Required by Illiterate Individuals with Little or No Functional Speech [master's dissertation]. Pretoria, South Africa: University of Pretoria; 2014
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 43 Ben Zeev N, Lerner N, Klein Y. The right of people with disabilities to legal justice: a view from Israel. In: Bryen DN, Bornman J. , eds. Stop Violence against People with Disabilities! An International Resource. Pretoria, South Africa: Pretoria University Law Press; 2014: 105-135
    Google Scholar