Sexuality and Intellectual Disability, Part V: (S)He Loves Me; (S)He Loves Me Not: Avoiding Abusive Relationships

This is the fifth and last session in TASH Training’s five-part Fall 2014 series, Sexuality, Education and Support for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

When

4:00-5:00 PM Eastern, Thursday, 30 October 2014

About this presentation

Romantic relationships are important in the lives of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Unfortunately, there are high rates of interpersonal violence in these relationships. It is well documented that persons with disabilities are victims of interpersonal violence at higher rates than peers without disabilities. Further, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities do not have many opportunities to learn and acquire the skills to develop healthy relationships or avoid abusive relationships. This session will present information about the romantic relationships in the lives of adults with intellection and developmental disabilities and describe an evidenced based intervention to teach social skills necessary to develop healthy, meaningful relationships and to prevent interpersonal violence for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Learning objectives

At the end of this session participants will be able to:

  • Describe the nature of romantic relationships in the lives of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and the extent of interpersonal violence.
  • Recognize the risk factors associated with interpersonal violence for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
  • Help adults people with disabilities develop healthy relationships and avoid interpersonal violence.
Audience

This presentation is for community-based paraprofessionals and professionals, program managers, policy makers, and educators working with young adults and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

About the presenters

Presenter Karen Ward, a woman with shoulder-length grey hair and glasses, wearing a denim, round-collared shirt against a wood paneled background

Karen Ward, Ed.D., is the Director of the University of Alaska Anchorage Center for Human Development, a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. Dr. Ward has over 35 years of experience as an educator, practitioner, and researcher in the field of disabilities, with training, experience, and published research in disability victimization issues. She has many years of clinical experience working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who have been victims of abuse and those who engage in high risk sexual behavior.

Co-presenter Julie Atkinson, a woman with brown, bobbed hair wearing brown-framed glasses, a white shirt and colorful scarf, in front of a bold painting consisting of wavy horizontal swatches of primary colors

Julie Atkinson is a Research Professional at the University of Alaska Anchorage Center for Human Development, a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. She has over five years of experience working with community based service providers as well as adults with intellectual disabilities to teach social skills to develop relationships and prevent victimization. She has conducted research on a number of issues related to the quality of life for individuals with disabilities including interpersonal violence, self-determination, and access to health care. Julie holds a Master of Science from Utah State University and has worked as an aide in state government on health and disabilities issues.

How to attend

This is a live webinar that will be streamed over the web. The presentation will be about fifty minutes, followed by ten minutes for Q&A. Registered participants will receive an e-mail with instructions and the link to join the webinar on the day of the event. Members are $25; non-members are $40. The member discount will be credited at the time of checkout. Registration closes Wednesday, 29 October 2014, the day before the event. For more information, contact Donald Taylor at dtaylor@tash.org.

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