The effects of experience and sexual abuse training on the attitudes of learning disability staff

Staff employed in three day centres for people with learning disabilities were offered training in sexual abuse. Their knowledge and attitudes about sexual abuse were measured immediately before and after training. Staff were asked about their perceptions of the risks of people with learning disabilities being sexually abused, and their estimations of the probability of the perpetrator being either a member of staff, a client, a person known to the abused person or a stranger. Their responses were found to be influenced by the recent training and their prior personal experience.