Developmentally Disabled Adults

Introduction:
When designing a project, I chose a survey study. I chose to make a questionnaire and present it to the adults that I work with. I work with developmentally disabled adults. I work at FAME, through the ARC, The Center For Creative Expression. At my work they can participate in Art, Showtime, which is music related, theatre, and a dance session. This is Monday through Friday broken up into two sessions, one from 1:00-3:00 and the other one from 3:30-5:30. This is interesting to me because I have worked with them for now almost 4 years and I see them everyday. It is nice to know what they feel about, not only themselves, but also how they feel about the people around them. And also how they deal with everyday life compared to those

When I proposed this to the adults I work with most were somewhat nervous and apprehensive about filling the questionnaire out. Most of them found it difficult to understand the questions so I presented the questions in groups of five. There were nine groups overall. I believe that most, if not all, adults with disabilities have a greater risk of being abused because they are less likely to defend themselves. The people that I work with have a very low self-esteem, and they are very vulnerable. They also cannot sometimes process things as quickly as most humans can, so what would normally take a average age male/female to process something that was just said, it could take someone with disabilities a couple hours for them to realize what was actually said to them. Individuals with developmental disabilities are more likely, I believe, to be abused because they are so eager to fit in and have everyone accept them that they just go with what people say or do to them without thinking

The more independent individuals answered that they thought more highly of themselves and the less independent individuals had a low self-esteem and thought less of themselves. ¾ of the guys from age 30-40 answered that they feel comfortable around people very accurate. I noticed that the females that participated in the questionnaire answered mostly all the questions the same and that they did not feel as highly about themselves as the males that participated did. I believe that after reviewing the questionnaires that my hypothesis is correct. That everyone, disabilities or not, believe that adults with disabilities have a higher risk of being abused then those who do not have disabilities. . One of my individuals stated “People look at me all the time and ask me why I come to FAME, at the ARC, it’s for people with disabilities?” But what they don’t understand that not everyone with disabilities have visible disabilities. Brad has something called a “hidden disability” called memorization autism. He remembers in high school people always called him “four-eyes” and “retard” for being in special classes that focused on him. Brad has been a victim of abuse with the disabled adults and he said even now at 54 he experiences it daily in everyday life. Another one of my individuals, Keri, 21, stated yes “adults with disabilities are