Belén Gutiérrez Bermejo

ABSTRACT

Abuse is a reality found in people with intellectual disabilities to which it is necessary to address through a response that starts from a global change in the centers and includes the development of specific actions with both professionals, as with the users themselves, families and society.

The project is presented in the form of a Plan of action and prevention of abuse in care centers for people with intellectual disabilities in a practical proposal to achieve this change supported by the pilots already conducted in more than 40 centers and entities throughout the country.

Changing the structure of the centers, the awareness of professionals and the recognition of what is abuse and mistreatment by people with disabilities themselves are some of the keys to this plan.

The proposal of centers and entities that walk towards the good treatment of people with disabilities is one of the final objectives of this plan.

FILIATION

Full Professor in the Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology at the Faculty of Psychology of the National University of Distance Education (UNED). I have been director of that department during 2017 and 2018.

Since my beginnings I have been dedicated to the field of disability and dependence both from the point of view of research and clinical practice.

I have participated in more than 200 national and international congresses as an invited speaker and I have directed more than 20 research projects in disability-related topics

In 2017 I founded the Service for the Protection of Persons with Disabilities of which I am its Director. This Service is a SPIN-Off of the UNED.Since 2018 I direct the National Plan for the prevention and action against abuse in care centers for people with disabilities throughout Spain.

Likewise, I am responsible for the Plan in Responsible Sexuality for people with disabilities.

I have participated in the pilot projects for the treatment of sex offenders with intellectual disabilities in the penitentiary centers of Estremera and Segovia in 2017 and 2018. Currently I coordinate the Program requested by the Ministry of Interior and specifically by the General Secretariat of Penitentiary Centers, for the treatment of this type of aggressors in Spanish prisons.

I direct different specialization courses, continuing education courses and summer courses for both professionals and people with intellectual disabilities.

I am the author of several books and articles related to the mistreatment of people with disabilities.