Screening for disability-related child maltreatment.

Abstract

Disability-related child maltreatment is not well defined or understood but should be part of systematic pediatric screening practices. Disability-related child maltreatment can be operationalized by these four domains: (1) Denial or manipulation of assistive technology; (2) Denial or undermining of care, assistance, or access; (3) Intentional worsening of disability-related function; (4) Engaging disability as a means to invoke harm. More research on disability-related maltreatment is needed to understand the unique and overlapping contributions these experiences may have in relation to other forms of child maltreatment.