Wheel of Abuse of People with Developmental Disabilities by a Caregiver
(links will open in a new window)
If you feel distressed or uncomfortable with this Power and Control Wheel and feel the need to speak with someone, some options would be to speak to a Project Coordinator or Domestic Violence Program/Shelter.
Download the PDF file for a larger and fully accessible version of this wheel.
Abuse of People with Developmental Disabilities Wheel (PDF)
Caregiver Power Information (PDF)
From the Domestic Abuse Intervention Project, Duluth, MN
The Caregiver Abuse Wheel contains some of the same categories of abuse as the Domestic Violence Wheel. However, the caregiver wheel focuses on withholding, misusing, or delaying needed supports, in other words, not responding appropriately to the needs of their client.
Another area in which the Caregiver and Domestic Violence Wheels differ involves “male privilege” versus “caregiver privilege.” In either situation the issue is dominance over the other person.
As you can see, all but one of the five types of abuse is represented in the wheel. The exception is self-neglect. This may be an outcome from domestic violence. An example would be when victims do not take care of themselves due to depression or hidden injury or will not let others take care of them out of fear that the abuse will be discovered. If there is a disability this could have serious consequences.