Interviewing a Child With Disabilities

Professionals charged with interviewing children for alleged abuse are likely to encounter children with developmental disabilities or other special needs. In this presentation, rates of victimization of children with special needs are provided, factors that increase risk of abuse for children with disabilities are discussed, children’s abilities to recount information are described, and strategies for the interview process are covered. Topics related to the interview include the importance of data-gathering before the interview, techniques to accommodate for particular disabilities during the interview, and suggestions to continue to address the child’s needs after the interview is complete.