Sensitive Topic Warning: Host Annette Hines discusses child abuse and child sexual abuse in this episode with two guests. She introduces the episode by reflecting on the report of the abuse of a young man with disabilities in a group home in southern Illinois published in the article: “A Disabled Young Patient Was Sent to Get Treatment. He Was Abused Instead. And He Wasn’t the Last.” on ProPublica.org. Hines notes that the incidence of abuse is much higher for youth with disabilities, and also how prolific child abuse, particularly sexual abuse, is in the United States. It’s so important to be open to discuss the issue of child abuse within our communities, families, and especially with our children to empower them to identify and name abuse and their abusers. It’s so important that we don’t hide the subject of abuse in the closet anymore, but we bring it to light to talk about it and prevent child abuse.
The two guests, Dr. Amy Saltzman M.D., founder and director of Spot a Spider, a program to prevent abuse, and 30th Circuit Court Judge Honorable Rosemarie Aquilina who oversaw the trial of U.S. gymnastics doctor and convicted abuser, Larry Nassar bring to light the behaviors of abusers and the importance of providing kids and community members the language to report abuse. Abuse is when someone you trust uses their power to hurt you. Preventing abuse starts with empowering ourselves to speak out when something is wrong, and believing and affirming our kids or others when they tell us about abuse.
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