CDT Legal & Ethical Considerations in Disability Trauma 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which U.S. federal law prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities and is most directly relevant to CDT practitioners advocating for clients?
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (Correct answer)
- Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Correct answer: Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The ADA prohibits discrimination in employment, public services, and accommodations, forming the legal backbone for disability rights in trauma-informed advocacy.
Question 2: What ethical principle requires CDT practitioners to prioritize the well-being and interests of the client above their own or organizational interests?
- Beneficence (Correct answer)
- Autonomy
- Fidelity
- Justice
Correct answer: Beneficence
Beneficence is the ethical obligation to act in the best interest of the client, a core principle in all helping professions.
Question 3: When is a CDT practitioner legally mandated to break confidentiality?
- When there is credible risk of harm to the client or others (Correct answer)
- Whenever a supervisor requests client information
- When a client discusses past trauma events
- When insurance billing requires detailed session notes
Correct answer: When there is credible risk of harm to the client or others
Mandatory reporting and duty-to-warn obligations require practitioners to breach confidentiality when there is imminent risk of harm to the client or a third party.
Question 4: What does informed consent require when working with clients with disabilities who have trauma histories?
- Providing accessible information about services, risks, and rights so the client can make a voluntary decision (Correct answer)
- Having a family member sign consent forms on behalf of the client
- Obtaining a one-time signature that covers all future interventions
- Verbal agreement without written documentation
Correct answer: Providing accessible information about services, risks, and rights so the client can make a voluntary decision
Informed consent must be accessible, comprehensible, and voluntary, with accommodations made for disability-related communication needs.
Question 5: Which legal concept protects individuals with disabilities from abuse and neglect in care settings under U.S. law?
- Adult Protective Services (APS) statutes (Correct answer)
- Fair Housing Act
- Rehabilitation Act Section 504
- Americans with Disabilities Act Title II
Correct answer: Adult Protective Services (APS) statutes
APS statutes create legal frameworks for investigating and responding to abuse, neglect, and exploitation of vulnerable adults including those with disabilities.
Question 6: What ethical concern arises when a practitioner has a personal relationship with a client's family member?
- Dual relationship or conflict of interest (Correct answer)
- Transference
- Countertransference
- Vicarious trauma
Correct answer: Dual relationship or conflict of interest
Dual relationships compromise the professional boundary and objectivity required for ethical practice, potentially harming the client.
CDT Legal & Ethical Considerations in Disability Trauma 1
Which U.S. federal law prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities and is most directly relevant to CDT practitioners advocating for clients?