Talking about child protection - Researching the experiences and views of deaf and disabled young people and young adults who have been abused about the child protection system

The University of Edinburgh, led by Professor Julie Taylor with partners from Strathclyde and Coventry Universities are undertaking an NSPCC funded research study exploring the experiences and views of maltreated disabled children and young adults about child protection services. This issue has not been explored from the perspective of disabled young people before in the UK, so it is hoped that the study will provide valuable lessons about how services can better protect and support them. We will be interviewing disabled children and young people aged 11 – 26 years from across the UK who have either experienced the child protection system, or who may have been abused but did not access services. Interviews will be made accessible according to the young person’s individual needs.

This study brings together research leaders in the field of both child protection and disability studies to understand the key issues in the accessibility and efficacy of the child protection system for deaf and disabled children and young people. This study will provide data to determine the enablers and barriers in help seeking, recognition and response to abuse from the view of deaf and disabled young people and young adults in the four nations of the United Kingdom.

The data is held in a secure data archive at the University of Edinburgh if you wish access you should contact Rowena Arshad.