ABSTRACT
According to the most recent evidence, more than 1.25 million children experienced maltreatment in the USA. In addition, children with confirmed disabilities had significantly higher rates of emotional neglect and of serious injury or harm (Sedlak et al., 2010). Children who have been abused and neglected are at a greater risk for developing a disability and or developmental delay. Furthermore, children with disabilities are 1.57 times more likely to have experienced abuse or neglect (Larson & Anderson, 2006). These children often qualify for services based on their combined risk of disability status and abuse and neglect. The maltreatment of children with disabilities is generally considered underreported; however, children with disabilities are prominent in Child Protective Services caseloads (Manders & Stone, 2009; Sobsey, 2002). Beliefs that children with disabilities place great stress on their parents, and a lack of training for child welfare workers in disability-related issues can increase the risk of abuse among these children (Manders & Stone, 2009). Consequently, despite their prominence in the child welfare system, children with disabilities are not always well served by these systems (Orelove, Hollahan, & Myles, 2000).
