The book is intended for two groups of readers. First, pertinent information is presented regarding abuse and prevention for parents, professionals, administrators, and other people involved with services for people with disabilities. Second, information specific to people with disabilities is provided for the use of police officers, child protection workers, family violence counselors, and others involved in generic community services for abuse prevention and intervention. The first chapter introduces the issue of abuse of people with disabilities and provides a brief accounting of the author's own personal experiences with abuse while working in an institution. Section I, "Understanding Abuse," contains five chapters that present basic information on violence and abuse, discuss particular aspects of violence and abuse that affect people with disabilities, and describe a model for understanding the relationship between abuse and disability. Section II, "Preventing Abuse," contains seven chapters that address how the risk of abuse can be reduced for people with disabilities by empowering them to resist it by restructuring some of the social realities that contribute to their increased risk. Appended list of resource organizations and 658 references