“She has a history of making things up”: Examining the disclosure and reporting of online sexual abuse among children with disabilities

Background: Despite the higher incidence and greater severity of sexual abuse of children with disabilities (CWD), these cases are often under-disclosed and under-reported. Technological advances and the increasing online presence of CWD have extended the scope of sexual abuse beyond physical spaces, raising additional concerns. Objective: The purpose of the study is to examine disclosure and reporting based on case reports addressing online child sexual abuse (OCSA) of CWD. Participants and setting: The data include 22 reports from an Israeli hotline documenting instances of OCSA involving CWD aged 11 to 17. Methods: Inductive thematic analysis on all 22 reports. Results: Four main themes were identified: disclosure characteristics, reasons for delayed disclosure, responses following the discovery of the OCSA, and critical gaps in reporting to authorities and in the authorities' responses following the report. Conclusion: The study highlights the significant challenges CWD face when disclosing and reporting OCSA. Negative responses, which are often characterized by a lack of validation, frequently hinder their willingness to disclose and lead to delayed reporting, resulting in continuing sexual abuse. Addressing this issue requires professional attention and heightened awareness among parents and professionals regarding the online dangers facing these children, emphasizing the need for supportive responses and authorities' involvement.