Award-winning author Kathy Picard returns to the podcast. A survivor of sexual abuse as a child, Kathy has been a children’s advocate for over twenty years. When we first met Kathy her book Life with My Idiot Family: A True Story of Survival, Courage & Justice over Childhood Sexual Abuse had just been published. It started when Kathy was only seven. She thought the abuser was her father. At seventeen Kathy learned that her abuser and rapist was actually her stepfather. She used her voice and was crucial in changing the statute of limitations laws in Massachusetts. Survivors now have until the age of 53 to go forward. In 2015 Kathy faced her rapist in court. Kathy is on a mission, advocating for children to know that your private parts are private and yes, use your voice. Tell someone.
The stats are staggering:
- 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 20 boys are sexually abused
- Average age of abuse – 12
- Average disclosure age – 44
- Average years before disclosure – 32
Activist, educator and author, Kathy’s newest children’s book ‘I Love You So Much That…‘ is one that she’s bringing to schools, educators and children. A very important conversation with Kathy Picard.