Abstract
The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) recognizes that all children and youth with disabilities have the right to live and flourish in a safe environment where they are protected from maltreatment. In January 2018, CEC formed a work group to write a policy statement on the prevention of and response to maltreatment. The Maltreatment work group consisted of the following members:
From January to August 2018, this maltreatment policy work group met biweekly to brainstorm, draft, and edit the maltreatment policy statement. In June 2018, the work group shared a draft policy with the CEC Representative Assembly (RA) for feedback. The work group received constructive feedback from the members of the RA, which was incorporated as appropriate into the final policy.
In September 2018, the policy on the prevention of and response to maltreatment was approved by the CEC Board of Directors. Ultimately, CEC advocates for building awareness and understanding of the maltreatment of children and youth with disabilities, enhancing mechanisms for recognizing and reporting maltreatment, and incorporating prevention and response strategies in everyday practice.
The policy statement on the prevention of and response to maltreatment is the first of many ongoing efforts. The Inter-Divisional Caucus (IDC) on Maltreatment will sustain much of the ongoing work related to maltreatment. The IDC maltreatment work group plans to engage CEC members, units, and divisions on issues of maltreatment through publications, webinars, professional development offerings, and conference presentations.
The complete CEC Policy on the Prevention of and Response to Maltreatment is shown on the following pages.
