CHILD WITH DISABILITY AS A POLY-VICTIM

Abstract

Despite the growing public awareness and numerous anti-violence campaigns present in media, still a large number of children, including those with disabilities, are victims of violence, crime and abuse. Their victimization may take the form of physical assault, abuse, sexual abuse or intimidation. Children can also witness such events in their homes, schools and local communities. The article presents an analysis of the risk factors for harming children with disabilities in the context of the phenomenon of poly-victimization understood as being a victim of many forms of abuse at the same time, also indicating its long-termphysical, mental and emotional effects. The presented analysis indicates the need to conduct comprehensive research on poly-victimization in the context of home, school and community in which children with disabilities live, to describe the factors correlating with this phenomenon and to design models of their interdependencies and interactions in order to be able to prevent their harm more and more effectively.