To earn her doctorate in psychology, Alette Coble-Temple spent countless hours studying, but when she speaks about abuse of people with disabilities, she isn't reciting a lesson from some textbook.
Her cerebral palsy has given her firsthand knowledge.
"One of my caregivers was angry with me when I needed assistance going to the bathroom," Coble-Temple said in an interview this week. "He took me to the toilet, left, and didn't come back. I had another caregiver who stole over $40,000 dollars for me."
Today she is in Rapid City to speak out about recognizing abuse of members of the disability community. Her presentation begins at 3 p.m. at the South Dakota State University Extension Rapid City Regional Center, 711 N. Creek Drive. Admission is free and open to the public.
Coble-Temple has worked in disability research and policy, performance enhancement and coaching, among other areas, since receiving her license in 2001. She is a member of the Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology and a committee member of the American Psychological Association Committee of Women with Disabilities.
In addition, Coble-Temple was named Ms. Wheelchair America 2016.
Coble-Temple said one of her main projects is on abuse of women with disabilities. She also said that over a quarter of the participants in Miss Wheelchair America became disabled due to abusive relationships.
"Many people think it won't happen to them," Coble-Temple said. "I don't think people want to believe that it would happen to people with disabilities because they see us as sweet and innocent."
Coble-Temple says that conclusion is mistaken.
"The reality is we're at greater risk to become victims of abuse because there are so many ways we can be taken advantage of," Coble-Temple said. "And it always fascinates me how people think they will get away with it. I've had four people (who abused her) prosecuted over my life."
By no means does Coble-Temple indict all caregivers, but she urges people to be aware of the possibility that things can go wrong.
"That's a big deal because a lot of people with disabilities are dependent on the perpetrators of their abuse," Coble-Temple said. "People with disabilities often feel trapped because if they report their abusers, they may not have a backup assistant available to them. If they don't, they can't live independently."
She said many in abusive relationships or situations think it is better to live that way rather than risk being placed in a nursing home.
Coble-Temple specified that people with disabilities need to be asked questions away from the caregivers, something she teaches social workers and psychologists.
"Often people will ask questions in front of the caregiver that's the perpetrator," Coble-Temple said.
She urged that people with disabilities in abusive relationships line up both safe houses and emergency care providers.
"If you notice changes in their life, ask them questions," Coble-Temple said. "Even if they need assistance, there's always a way to the person without that assistant, a way to help."