Concerned about father's behavior?

Question

I am 25, and the uncle of a six year-old girl who has down syndrome. I am very concerned about her because while she inevitably exhibits some cognitive impairment, and just needs a little more time to learn and grasp things around the house, her father is becoming increasingly frustrated and impatient with her. He has taken to hitting/slapping her hard across the head and face, and pulling her hair when she doesn't "do as she's told". The result is he's angry and she cries terribly; I think his behavior is awful, and I try to comfort her but is there anything else I can do to protect her from him? If I confront him he might just keep her away from me, and she'll be stuck alone with him. Please, what can I do?

Answer 1

What a difficult situation. Working with a special needs child takes a lot of energy and patience; do you feel as though you could approach him in a non-confrontational way? Perhaps reach out to him and find out if he needs some extra help, some counseling, etc. If you or her father belong to a church, they may have resources to help, and churches tend to be very community minded organizations.
If you feel that his behavior is not something that can be alleviated with some free-time, counseling, etc., or you feel that your niece is in immediate danger and you don't have the ability to take her in, then perhaps social services is the best option.
Here are a couple of links I found in a Google search.
It looks like if you browse you may find some support groups who may be able to help you with this difficult situation.
http://downsyndrome.com/
http://www.ndss.org/
Good Luck.

Answer 2

The behavior you're describing--the father slapping a child hard across the head and face, and pulling her hair--is abusive. I'm a former Child Protective Services caseworker. I strongly recommend that you call CPS. Parenting a developmentally delayed child is difficult, and it sounds like he's lashing out in frustration. CPS isn't always just about taking people's children away from them, even though that's the popular perception. They can get him some assistance with anger management and parenting classes. Good luck!!

Answer 3

Offer to take her on a regular basis so he can get a break. We have an 8 year old with Downs and it does get very frustrating. Especially if he is a single parent. Another thing that helped was when she started school. There she gets speech every day, and someone else is also encouraging her to do her best.
If he keeps beating her, take her away! Let it be his choice, he can choose to let you raise her or you will have to got to Child Services. She may never be able to speak for herself, so if you don't who will?
Good Luck

Answer 4

I am sorry you have to deal with this, but you need to call DFACS TODAY!!!! This is upsetting you and causing harm to your lovely niece, whose disposition is to love and be loved. Your brother or in law needs help. You want to stay involved in her life, so unfortunately you may need to ID yourself when you make the call. Maybe someone will answer that has gone through this. Whatever - you HAVE to protect her and get her OUT of the situation.

Something to think about - abusers often are WORSE when no one can witness - so imagine what life must be like when you aren't there....

Call,,,,

Answer 5

He obviously needs some type of training with a special needs child. Yes, it can be very frustrating to deal with be he must learn to take a deep breath and realize that she cannot learn as quickly as other children. She is lucky to have an uncle that is so concerned. Continue to be supportive of her she will definitely need it....

Answer 6

Where is this child's mother? I t sounds like you adore and love this child but for the childs safety and well being you have to report this behavior as it is child abuse. The child does not deserve to be treated this way and you will not always be there to protect her and when you are not, he may permanently injure her or even possible kill her. Please do the right thing.

Answer 7

i'm sorry on your losses as nicely. The death of a chum can actual reason melancholy. (I went by way of a severe melancholy after my dad died.) yet I come from a relatives it is often changing wills and perilous to "disown" this guy or woman or that one - my grandmother left her total sources to her college and her church (a plaque and a pew, I noted because it). Her funds, her determination. My dad replaced his will presently till now he died (his funds, his determination) and that i'm perpetually absolute to my stepmother because of the fact of it. I count variety myself fortunate in some techniques regardless of the indisputable fact that, i replaced into the executor (moved up somewhat from being disowned at 15). base line is - you may not anticipate ever getting somebody else's funds - in case you do, it rather is a physically powerful element. yet to anticipate to get one element or yet another is placing your self up for woe and sadness, and to press your dad approximately it ought to nicely see you ignored of an inheritance altogether and the achieveable destruction of your courting. I nevertheless think of of my stepmother as a gold digger (it is not appropriate to me that she replaced into married to him for 27 years .. lol). in case you had to contest the will, you're able to have carried out so for the duration of the probate. Your dad sounds like he's having a sprint relaxing. there is not any harm in that for the duration of any respect - i does not concepts going to the Cayman Islands. He lost your mom, and probable had in concepts to do those form of issues along with her - and if he's going somewhat overboard, what's the wear and tear? in basic terms be happy he's not crying in the back room feeling like he's have been given no reason to pass on.

Answer 8

Please called child services, this little girl does not deserve to be mistreated this way. No child does...EVER! Maybe you could take her in until he gets help or takes classes on how to deal w/such issues. If you feel you cannot handle that....maybe there is a program she can go into. Anything to get her out of his house hold. That's horrible for her to go through that...please help her!

Answer 9

This is definitely a good enough for child abuse. I would report it. A little girl with down syndrome doesn't need to be mistreated like that.

Answer 10

It sounds to me like he not only needs a support group with other parents who have kids with DS, but social services needs to be brought in for that child's protection. Good luck!!