Glenda
Content Warning: These stories are about violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation and may include references to suicide or self-harming behaviours. They may contain graphic descriptions and strong language and may be distressing. Some narratives may be about First Nations people who have passed away. If you need support, please see Contact & support.
Glenda, mid-50s, has intellectual disability and epilepsy.
At a young age, Glenda and her brothers were placed into care because her mother was not well enough to look after them. Glenda was sent to a girls home and her brothers went to a boys home.
Glenda stopped talking when she was in care, which prompted authorities to investigate her father for sexual abuse.
Glenda told the Royal Commission she confronted her father when she was older. He denied abusing her and blamed her mother for making false allegations. Glenda will never know for sure what happened, but believes ‘something had happened’.
Glenda has three children.
‘I knew what to do when they were babies and I never got the chance to do it.’
The department of child protection removed Glenda’s children immediately after they were born and placed them with her father and stepmother.
‘[Glenda]’s disability was part of the reason they decided to keep the custody with the stepmother and father, despite being made very aware about the father's history of having sexually assaulted [Glenda],’ Glenda’s advocate said.
No-one offered Glenda any parenting support. ‘[My stepmother] only ever offered to take the children away,’ Glenda said. She never offered to help. ‘It was just all or nothing.’
Glenda initially had visiting rights and would see her children regularly. One day she found her father sleeping with one of her daughters. She raised her concerns but no-one did anything.
Glenda said her stepmother is ‘really awful’ to her and very critical of her. ‘She thinks I’m not capable of looking after my own child.’ Not long ago she stopped Glenda from seeing her children. One time she ‘raced out’ and told Glenda to leave. ‘I’m not allowed to come on their property.’
Glenda feels her children were ‘stolen’ from her.
‘When they first moved in, when they did get a chance to speak, they started saying "granddad" and "grandma". And then after a while, when they got to start to go to school and that … they started saying "mum" and "dad".’
Her father and stepmother have never let her be involved with the children’s schooling. She’s not invited to school events and they don’t give her any information about the children’s health.
Glenda’s father has blocked her from attending family gatherings. Her brother stayed in touch with the children and would make reports to Glenda, but her dad has now blocked him too. ‘Now no-one has any ties to the children.’
Glenda has attempted to gain custody of her children and has attended court on several occasions. She had legal representation. Glenda’s stepmother accused her of being ‘promiscuous’ and said the children would not be safe in her care.
The court took Glenda’s intellectual disability into account and didn’t return the children.
Glenda doesn’t understand why her children have never been returned to her.
Disclaimer: This is the story of a person who shared their personal experience with the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability through a submission or private session. The names in this story are pseudonyms. The person who shared this experience was not a witness and their account is not evidence. They did not take an oath or affirmation before providing the story. Nothing in this story constitutes a finding of the Royal Commission. Any views expressed are those of the person who shared their experience, not of the Royal Commission.