Attitudes and assumptions within society and amongst those working with children can lead to a view that abuse does not happen to disabled children and in turn this undermines the safeguarding of disabled children at all levels. 

Attitudes about disability are also a contributory factor in the lack of reporting of abuse to disabled children. Estimates suggest that only one in thirty cases of sexual abuse of disabled people is reported compared to one in five of the non-disabled population and a Norwegian study of children being examined in paediatric hospitals for possible sexual abuse reached similar conclusions. (Gov.uk, July 2009)