SAFE: Stop Abuse for Everyone A personal safety training guide for adults with disabilities and care providers Module 2: Neglect and Withholding Support 1

Fun Questions 2

Your Rights Right to Be Safe Right to Speak Out Right to Get Help 3

Knowledge Is Power 4

What is Safety? Safety is not being in danger. Safety is being free from harm or risk of harm. Safety is about keeping safe at home, at work an in the community 5

What is Safety? 6 At home At work In the community

Parts of Safety 7

Safe 8

Not Safe 9

Your Rights Right to Be Safe Right to Speak Out Right to Get Help 10

Parts of Safety 11

What do you need to live? 12

What do you need to live? 13

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Questions? What about people with Disabilities? Are there things they need that others may not? What would happen if you did not have the things you need to live? 15

What are Support People? Anyone who provides you with assistance or care. Anyone who helps you get or do the things you need to live. 16

Support People? Do you rely on others to assist you with your daily needs? How do they help you? 17

Who Might Support You? Friend Teacher Co-worker Doctor Nurse Clergy or Pastor Family member Partner Care provider/ support person Rep Payee Personal Assistant 18

What is Neglect? When someone who is taking care of you does not pay attention to your needs. When someone withholds support or does not provide you with the things you need to live. 19

Who Might Neglect You? 20

Who Might Neglect You? Friend Teacher Co-worker Doctor Nurse Rep Payee Clergy or Pastor Family member Partner Stranger Care provider/ support person Personal Assistant 21

Paid vs. Unpaid Support People What are some examples of paid support people? What if someone is neglecting you and you are not paying for their services? 22

What can you do to protect yourself from neglect? 23

Example #1 M alcolm uses an electric wheelchair and also requires support with his personal hygiene, such as bathing, toileting and dressing. He also needs support transferring to and from his wheelchair. Malcolm wants to hire a new personal assistant. During each interview, Malcolm explained that he needs support during the night to go to the bathroom, sometimes two or three times a night. After interviewing several people Malcolm makes his decision and hires a new personal assistant. But after several days the new personal assistant ignores Malcolm’s call during the night for help to go to the bathroom. 24

Example #2 Mary is a young woman who lives in a group home with other young women and men. Mary likes talking to guys, and wants a boyfriend. Mary’s mother is her legal guardian. That means Mary’s mother went to court and asked a judge if she could make decisions for Mary, instead of Mary making her own decisions. Mary’s mother does not like Mary talking to guys or want her to have a boyfriend. Mary’s mother told staff that they were to keep Mary away from guys. Mary is not supposed to talk to guys, or go to the movies or out to dinner if guys were also along. This makes Mary angry and sad. 25

Example #3 Henry needs to go to the doctor once a month. He counts on his assistant, Bill, to take him. This month Henry and Bill get into an argument. Bill, the assistant, refuses to take Henry to his doctor’s appointment. 26

Why is it Hard to Tell? 27

How to Tell… Stay calm Don’t laugh or smile Be confident Tell the facts Use a loud voice and speak up Look the person in the eye or face 28

How to Tell… Tell what happened Tell someone you trust Keep telling until someone does something Have someone you trust with you when you tell 29

Trust Who do you trust in your life? Why do you trust them? 30

Who Can You Tell? Friend Teacher Co-worker Doctor Nurse Rep Payee Police Clergy or pastor Family member Partner Care provider/ support Personal Assistant Other 31

If You Need Help 32

Parts of Safety 33

Your Rights Right to Be Safe Right to Speak Out Right to Get Help 34

Knowledge Is Power 35

Thank You! 36