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Personal safety issues in the lives of children with learning disabilitiesDownload this paper - 158KB PDF AuthorsEmeritus Professor Freda Briggs & Associate Professor Russell M.F.HawkinsSpeakerEmeritus Professor Freda BriggsOrganisationUniversity of South Australia Magill CampusOne hundred and sixteen New Zealand students (mean age 13.8) were interviewed individually in special education settings using questionnaires previously used in 1996 with New Zealand Intermediate School children. The instrument was designed to investigate safety issues for these 'special needs' children, all of whom were identified as 3 years or more behind their chronological age group in all aspects of the curriculum. The study confirmed the high vulnerability of learning disabled children and young people to all forms of abuse as well as drugs and pornography. Findings confirmed the value of a comprehensive school-based child protection programme incorporating activity methods, parent participation and regular reinforcement. They also highlighted the special needs of boys. BiographyFreda Briggs AO is Professor Emeritus, researcher and lecturer in child development at the University of South Australia, Magill Campus. She received the Order of Australia and Rotary International Service Award in 2005, the Queen's Centenary Medal (2003), was Senior Australian of the Year in 2000/1, recipient of the inaugural Australian Humanitarian Award (1998) and ANZAC Scholarship for research of value to Australia and New Zealand in 1997.She has been consultant and researcher for New Zealand Police Youth Education for 20 years, evaluated the national school-based child protection curriculum with children at all school levels and parents. Freda was co-inquirer into the handing of sex abuse cases by the Diocese of Brisbane (2003).She is the author of 14 books relating to child protection and has researched in Australia with child sex offenders, victims, their families and professionals reporting abuse. |
