1. RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION DESIGN © 2015
www.PosterPresentations.com
Sexual Assault is a crime of anger and control
that uses sex as a tool against the victim. Sexual
Assault is a one-time occurrence.
It is a pattern of sexually violent behavior.
An Intellectual disability is characterized by
significant limitations in both intellectual
functioning and adaptive behavior (American
Association for Intellectual Disabilities).
What is Sexual Assault?
 Powerlessness
 Lack of communication
 Lack of education
 appropriate vs. not appropriate touching
 knowing its okay to say NO!
 Caretaker’s failure to request professionals background
check
 Lack of knowledge regarding abuse-reporting
 Attitudes and practices of agencies
 Having multiple disabilities
Risk Factors
At the Randolph-Tucker Children’s Advocacy
Center (RTCAC), I was responsible for completing
the OMS caregiver surveys, I attended MDIT
meetings in Randolph as well as Tucker County,
and observed forensic interviews for children who
have been physically abused, sexually abused, or
neglected.
Practicum: Children’s Advocacy Center
50% of those women have been assaulted more than 10X.
Effects of Abuse
 Harmful psychological, physical, and
behavioral effects.
 Pregnancy, STIs, bruises, lacerations, and
other physical injuries.
 Psychosomatic symptoms
 stomachaches, headaches,
seizures, and sleeping difficulties.
 Depression, anxiety, panic attacks, low
self-esteem, shame and guilt, irrational
fear, and loss of trust.
 Withdrawal, aggressiveness, self-injurious
and sexually inappropriate behavior.
References:
 Davis, L. (2011, March 11). Abuse of Children With Intellectual
Disabilities. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
 Frequently Asked Questions on Intellectual Disability. (n.d.).
Retrieved October 29, 2015.
 How often does it happen? (2015, April 13). Retrieved October
29, 2015, from http://www.wcsap.org/how-often-does-it-
happen
Lauren Panell
Davis and Elkins College
Sexual Abuse in Children with Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities
What is Sexual Abuse?
What is an Intellectual Disability?
Women and Abuse
80% of Women
Have Been Abused
Men and Abuse
30% of Men
Have Been
Abuse
Children with Intellectual Disabilities are 4x More Likely to be
Sexually Abused