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The Dignity of Risk

As people with disabilities, we are at greater risk of abuse than people who do not have disabilities. This is due to a number of factors, including our reliance on caregivers, isolation, and communication difficulties. Vulnerability to violence increases with the degree of dependence and disability.

Abuse of people with disabilities, like all forms of abuse, is an abuse of power and control. The abusers are primarily people closest to us or people on whom we are dependent physically, emotionally and/or financially. This can be a large number of people, including home support workers, transportation drivers, health professionals and family members.

Sometimes the abuse is so subtle that we might not even notice it ourselves at first. Sometimes others do not notice it, choose to ignore it, or even worse, tell us we are imagining things!

Everyone takes a risk just getting out of bed in the morning, crossing the street or eating a meal, but for some of us, the risks are greater. If we rely on others to help us with personal care, dressing, eating or other activities of daily living, we are in situations which are potentially risky - someone might take advantage of us. We enter these situations of our own choosing and accept the inherent risk. This is called "dignity of risk". Whether or not we say it each time, we are accepting that, as individuals, we are aware of what we are doing, will do what we can to be safe, and accept any inherent risk. This is the right to self-determination. Unfortunately, not all abuse is blatant and visible but it is just as damaging.

Sometimes called "subtle abuse", this type of abuse is often misunderstood. Here are some examples:

• the store clerk who disappears when you enter the department, or is suddenly too busy to help you
• the home support worker who doesn't tell you that the cleaning product container is empty, but continues to clean with nothing
• the person who lets the building door slam into rather than hold it open for you to enter or exit safely
• the clerk or waitress/waiter who doesn't address you, but asks someone with you what you want
• the doctor who doesn't take time to listen to you because s/he "knows what is best for you"
• the personal attendant or family member who overrides your clothing choices
• people who use condescending language or tone of voice or who make inappropriate jokes
• the family member or caregiver who takes over management of finances
• friends who disappear when you become disabled
• the group home worker, parent or friend who does not want you to go out because you might get hurt
  Please respect our right to make choices and take risks.

The preceeding behaviours are not acceptable to anyone. They strip us of our dignity and self-respect. As people with disabilities, we cannot be afraid to let people know when something they do is hurtful, offensive or inappropriate.

As members of the community we can work together to:

• increase community awareness of people with disabilities
• promote positive attitudes toward people with disabilities
• encourage and participate in training of people who will be providing care or services
• be aware of support services in the community

Treat everyone with the same respect you expect and appreciate. Please don't make assumptions - ask questions, listen to the answers and then act accordingly. By communicating openly and honestly, we can stop many instances of subtle abuse before they happen.

This article is an edited version of an article by the same name which appeared in the November, 1993 issue of "Impact", the newsletter of the North Shore Disability Resource Centre Association, and is published here with their kind permission.