Opinion: Empowerment and Education Needed to Put an End to Abuse

Howard Moon is an Ocala advocate for children and the disabled. He is a past recipient of the Marion County Children's Alliance Children's Champion Award.

Some statistics just scare me and make me almost ashamed to be human. Especially concerning are the statistics regarding family or domestic violence and abuse of persons with disabilities. These are our most vulnerable residents. These are the people who need the most care and protection.

However, they are being abused at an alarming rate. People with developmental disabilities, for example, are four to 10 times more likely to be victims of abuse than the general population.