Biography
Andrea J. Nichols received her Ph.D. in Criminology from UMSL in 2011. She is Professor of Sociology at STLCC Forest Park, and Lecturer in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Washington University in St. Louis. She is the author of multiple peer-reviewed journal articles and books in the area of sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.
Sarah Slutsker received her Anthropology degree from Washington University in St. Louis in 2022. She currently works at a maternal-fetal medicine clinic.
Melissa Oberstaedt received her degree in Anthropology: Global Health and Environment in 2023 from Washington University in St. Louis. She is currently a Hospital Outreach Specialist for The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp.
Abstract
Aim: This pilot study aimed to explore the intersection of disability and anti-trafficking prevention and training efforts from the perspectives of human trafficking survivors with disabilities and the professionals who work with them to inform further research.
Methods: The current study draws from in-depth interviews with seven participants, including two survivors and five professionals who regularly worked with human trafficking survivors with disabilities. Data analysis involved independent co-coding of transcribed interviews by a three-member research team to identify core themes and subthemes.
Results: The results showed a lack of human trafficking prevention education for people with disabilities, as well as disability inclusive training for professionals. Participants described the need for prevention education to be audience-tailored, accessible, and culturally humble. Participants described that professional training was lacking in both the inclusion of people with disabilities and accessibility, and highlighted the importance of training that includes culturally humble practices.
Implications: Prevention education necessitates consideration of the audience, including tailoring content and delivery to the audience (e.g., age/ disability type), making content accessible, and exercising cultural humility in learning about and modifying curriculum and delivery. Professional training requires inclusiveness of the heightened risk experienced by people with disabilities, as well as ways risks and signs may be distinct by disability type. Professional training should be accessible to professionals with disabilities and also include information about accessibility within organizations and culturally humble practices to better serve human trafficking survivors with disabilities.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Nichols, Andrea; Slutsker, Sarah; and Oberstaedt, Melissa (2025) "Disability and Human Trafficking: Prevention Education and Professional Training," Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence: Vol. 10: Iss. 4, Article 4. https://doi.org/10.23860/dignity.2025.10.04.04
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