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Vulnerability and risk in children living with a physical disability

Heaslip, VA; Hewitt-Taylor, J

Authors

J Hewitt-Taylor



Abstract

Children are identified as a vulnerable group in need of a degree of safeguarding. About 6% of children in the UK have a disability, which can increase their level of vulnerability. How disability is perceived by others may affect the way they work with these young people in coping with life's risks, which may be increased due to the disability. Each individual's perception of the risks and benefits of a given venture varies. Children's nurses work with these young people and their families, aiming to give them maximum autonomy, self-reliance, empowerment and independence in adulthood. This involves risk-taking, as every young person needs to learn from graduated exposure to new experiences, environments, associations and hazards; the chance of harm must be balanced with the disadvantages of over-protection.

Citation

Heaslip, V., & Hewitt-Taylor, J. (2014). Vulnerability and risk in children living with a physical disability. Nursing Children and Young People, 26(10), 24-29. https://doi.org/10.7748/ncyp.26.10.24.e528

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Dec 1, 2014
Deposit Date Oct 19, 2022
Journal Nursing children and young people
Print ISSN 2046-2336
Publisher RCN Publishing
Volume 26
Issue 10
Pages 24-29
DOI https://doi.org/10.7748/ncyp.26.10.24.e528
Publisher URL https://doi.org/10.7748/ncyp.26.10.24.e528