The Arc of Maryland has developed a violence prevention program for their clients called The Personal Space Program.
There is certainly a need for such a program. To quote from the ARC document:
"According to research, most people with disabilities will experience some form of sexual
assault or abuse during their lifetime (Sobsey and Varnhagen, 1989). Victims who have
some level of intellectual impairment are at the highest risk of sexual violence (Sobsey and
Doe, 1991). Persons with developmental disabilities have a 4 to 10 times higher risk of
becoming crime victims than persons without developmental disabilities. One study of
alleged crimes against people with disabilities revealed that 90% involved sexual offenses
(Carmody, 1991). Both males and females with developmental disabilities are victims of
sexual violence, however women experience sexual violence at a higher rate than their male
counterparts. Sobsey cites 78.9% females compared to 21.1% of males in research from the
University of Alberta (Sobsey, 1994). Consistent with this, a number of other studies on
rates of sexual assault against women with developmental disabilities reveal that over 80%
had been sexually assaulted (Hard, 1986). Of those who reported being sexually assaulted,
50% had been assaulted 10 or more times (Valenti-Hein and Schwartz, 1995). Sobsey and
Doe indicate that in 56% to 62% of cases involving sexual assault or abuse of children and
adults with developmental disabilities, penetration occurs (Sobsey, 1994)."
The goals of the program are:
Orientation:
· To give participants information about the course
· To help participants get to know each other
· To help participants embrace the idea of difference, and concept of choice
Sexuality:
· To know their body parts
· To know what parts of the body are private and which are public
· To be able to define sexuality
Healthy Relationships:
· Be able to describe a healthy relationship
· Describe the different types of relationships you have
· Describe the appropriate kinds of touches for each relationship
Sexual Harassment:
· Know what sexual harassment is
· Understand that sexual harassment is against their civil rights
· Increase their assertiveness skills
· Know the steps to take when sexually harassed
Sexual Assault:
· Know what sexual assault is
· Understand that sexual assault is against the law
· Know ways to prevent being sexually assaulted
· Know what steps to take if they are sexually assaulted
Domestic Violence:
· Know what domestic violence is
· Understand that domestic violence is against the law
· Know ways to prevent domestic violence
· Know what steps to take if they experience domestic violence
When Someone Who Is Supporting You Hurts You
· Define sexual abuse by direct care staff and others who provide support in daily living
· Distinguish appropriate behavior from abusive behavior
· Understand that violence by direct care staff and others who provide support in daily living is
against the law
· Know what steps to take if they are a victim of violence by direct care staff and others who provide
support in daily living
Safety Planning:
· Know what a safety plan is
· Know preventive safety strategies
· Know ways to react in dangerous situations
· Complete a safety card
Anyone can access the Lesson plan and teaching materials to address the issue of personal safety by accessing this document. Copy and paste this URL:
http://www.thearcmd.org/files/Final.PDF
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
The National Disability Rights Network
What is NDRN? To quote from the website for NDRN:
"The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) is the nonprofit membership organization for the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Systems and the Client Assistance Programs (CAP) for individuals with disabilities. Through training and technical assistance, legal support, and legislative advocacy, NDRN works to create a society in which people with disabilities are afforded equality of opportunity and are able to fully participate by exercising choice and self-determination.
WHO WE SERVE
NDRN members serve individuals with a wide range of disabilities – including, but not limited to, those with cognitive, mental, sensory, and physical disabilities.
WHAT WE DO
NDRN members investigate reports of abuse and neglect, and seek systemic change to prevent further incidents; advocate for basic rights; and ensure accountability in health care, education, employment, housing, transportation, and within the juvenile and criminal justice systems for individuals with disabilities."
Issues that are addressed by NDRN include:
Abuse and Neglect
Assistive Technology
Community Integration
Criminal Justice
Disaster Management
Education
Employment
Housing
Juvenile Justice
Medicare / Medicaid
Mental Health
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Vocational Rehabilitation
Voting
If you or a loved one has a disability, this site is worth a look. They include stories about current disability rights cases in the courts. They also include information about TASC (The Training and Advocacy Support Center).
There are some interesting publications about the lack of workplace opportunities with fair wages for the disabled and the issue of restraint and seclusion in school
To visit the website for The National Disability Rights Network, copy and paste this URL:
http://www.napas.org
"The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) is the nonprofit membership organization for the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Systems and the Client Assistance Programs (CAP) for individuals with disabilities. Through training and technical assistance, legal support, and legislative advocacy, NDRN works to create a society in which people with disabilities are afforded equality of opportunity and are able to fully participate by exercising choice and self-determination.
WHO WE SERVE
NDRN members serve individuals with a wide range of disabilities – including, but not limited to, those with cognitive, mental, sensory, and physical disabilities.
WHAT WE DO
NDRN members investigate reports of abuse and neglect, and seek systemic change to prevent further incidents; advocate for basic rights; and ensure accountability in health care, education, employment, housing, transportation, and within the juvenile and criminal justice systems for individuals with disabilities."
Issues that are addressed by NDRN include:
Abuse and Neglect
Assistive Technology
Community Integration
Criminal Justice
Disaster Management
Education
Employment
Housing
Juvenile Justice
Medicare / Medicaid
Mental Health
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Vocational Rehabilitation
Voting
If you or a loved one has a disability, this site is worth a look. They include stories about current disability rights cases in the courts. They also include information about TASC (The Training and Advocacy Support Center).
There are some interesting publications about the lack of workplace opportunities with fair wages for the disabled and the issue of restraint and seclusion in school
To visit the website for The National Disability Rights Network, copy and paste this URL:
http://www.napas.org
Potomac Community Resources Serves Teens and Adults
In Montgomery County, MD, there is an organization that began in 1994, and now serves hundreds of teens and adults with developmental differences. Programs that PCR offers include basketball, chorus, basic communication skills, music therapy, art, photography, Tai Ji (martial arts), and a Friday night social club. They have a Mens's Group and a Women's Group that meets in a local church and they have special events like Earth Day activities. In addition, they offer a Sunday afternoon respite program with many fun and therapeutic activities, once a month.
PCR sends out a periodic newsletter, has a website and is on Facebook. If you are in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area and think you might be interested in looking into PCR activities, the Spring sessions end in July, so there is time to register for the next sessions.
To read more about PCR or to register for these programs, copy and paste this URL
http://www.pcr-inc.org
PCR sends out a periodic newsletter, has a website and is on Facebook. If you are in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area and think you might be interested in looking into PCR activities, the Spring sessions end in July, so there is time to register for the next sessions.
To read more about PCR or to register for these programs, copy and paste this URL
http://www.pcr-inc.org
Genetic Mutations Involved in Many Cases of Autism
In the news today, an interesting article about the causes of autism:
Autism Result Of Scores Of Genetic Mutations, Researchers Say
By SHAUN HEASLEY
June 9, 2011 Text Size A A
Hundreds of spontaneous gene mutations may be responsible for the development of autism in families without a history of the disorder.
In three studies published Thursday in the journal Neuron, researchers from Yale University, Columbia University and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York looked at gene analyses from over 1,000 families where one child had an autism diagnosis but the parents and the child’s siblings did not.
They found that children with autism had more copy number variants, or sections of DNA that are duplicated or missing, as compared to their siblings without the disorder. The gene variants were wide-ranging, but were involved in the formation of synapses which are responsible for communication in the brain and other parts of the nervous system.
“The diversity implies that a treatment for one form of autism may have no value for the majority,” says Dr. Michael Wigler of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory who led one of the studies. “This type of knowledge is a critical first step in developing novel treatment approaches.”
In addition, the researchers found that a greater number of gene variants seemed to be required in order to trigger autism in girls, which could help explain why the developmental disorder occurs more frequently in boys than girls.
One group of genes proved to be of particular interest to researchers because their addition or deletion resulted in two opposite phenomenon. When extra copies of this group were present, the genes triggered autism. But when this group was missing, Williams syndrome occurred, a condition characterized by extreme sociability and friendliness.
“This relatively small genomic interval clearly holds important clues to understanding the social brain,” said Dr. Matthew W. State from Yale University who led one of the studies.
Autism Result Of Scores Of Genetic Mutations, Researchers Say
By SHAUN HEASLEY
June 9, 2011 Text Size A A
Hundreds of spontaneous gene mutations may be responsible for the development of autism in families without a history of the disorder.
In three studies published Thursday in the journal Neuron, researchers from Yale University, Columbia University and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York looked at gene analyses from over 1,000 families where one child had an autism diagnosis but the parents and the child’s siblings did not.
They found that children with autism had more copy number variants, or sections of DNA that are duplicated or missing, as compared to their siblings without the disorder. The gene variants were wide-ranging, but were involved in the formation of synapses which are responsible for communication in the brain and other parts of the nervous system.
“The diversity implies that a treatment for one form of autism may have no value for the majority,” says Dr. Michael Wigler of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory who led one of the studies. “This type of knowledge is a critical first step in developing novel treatment approaches.”
In addition, the researchers found that a greater number of gene variants seemed to be required in order to trigger autism in girls, which could help explain why the developmental disorder occurs more frequently in boys than girls.
One group of genes proved to be of particular interest to researchers because their addition or deletion resulted in two opposite phenomenon. When extra copies of this group were present, the genes triggered autism. But when this group was missing, Williams syndrome occurred, a condition characterized by extreme sociability and friendliness.
“This relatively small genomic interval clearly holds important clues to understanding the social brain,” said Dr. Matthew W. State from Yale University who led one of the studies.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
A Self Directed Life Facebook Page
There is now another way to link to this blog and read the latest posts. A Facebook Page has been set up and comments on the wall are encouraged. Tell me what posts have been useful or interesting, and what topics you would like more information about! Share the Blog with anyone who might benefit from the information. That is what this is all about.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
The Miracle League
I came across this story accidentally and it brought tears to my eyes. The crazy thing is that the project is happening less than a mile from my home, and I had no idea that it existed until now.
The Kiwanis Club of Bethesda is trying to build a baseball field for disabled children and young adults. They believe that every child deserves a chance to play baseball. The project is called the MIRACLE LEAGUE.
They are are "building a specially equipped baseball field that will give mentally or physically challenged children the recreational opportunity they deserve. Construction of the field requires special design, specifications, and details to be accessible to disabled children." They "are in the process of raising the funds to build this field; hopefully by the spring of 2010." (As of this date, the project is progressing but is not completed yet)
The Miracle League will give these children the opportunity to get out in the sunshine, and enjoy playing the game of baseball in its purest form. It is the first of its kind in Maryland and will serve children in Montgomery County, the surrounding counties, DC, and Virginia.
The Miracle League Field will be located in the South Germantown Recreational Park off
Schaeffer Road, directly across from the soccer complex."
"During each Miracle League game, each child will have a chance at bat and to score a run. Miracle League team members will be assigned buddies who will assist them in hitting the ball and “running” the bases. Fellow schoolmates, members of Kiwanis Key Clubs, college students, business leaders or anyone who wishes to volunteer their time, will be enlisted as buddies to give each child the gift of baseball."
To read more about the project, copy and paste this URL:
http://miracleleaguemontcomd.com
The Kiwanis Club of Bethesda is trying to build a baseball field for disabled children and young adults. They believe that every child deserves a chance to play baseball. The project is called the MIRACLE LEAGUE.
They are are "building a specially equipped baseball field that will give mentally or physically challenged children the recreational opportunity they deserve. Construction of the field requires special design, specifications, and details to be accessible to disabled children." They "are in the process of raising the funds to build this field; hopefully by the spring of 2010." (As of this date, the project is progressing but is not completed yet)
The Miracle League will give these children the opportunity to get out in the sunshine, and enjoy playing the game of baseball in its purest form. It is the first of its kind in Maryland and will serve children in Montgomery County, the surrounding counties, DC, and Virginia.
The Miracle League Field will be located in the South Germantown Recreational Park off
Schaeffer Road, directly across from the soccer complex."
"During each Miracle League game, each child will have a chance at bat and to score a run. Miracle League team members will be assigned buddies who will assist them in hitting the ball and “running” the bases. Fellow schoolmates, members of Kiwanis Key Clubs, college students, business leaders or anyone who wishes to volunteer their time, will be enlisted as buddies to give each child the gift of baseball."
To read more about the project, copy and paste this URL:
http://miracleleaguemontcomd.com
Do You Need Legal Assistance?
Have you heard of the Maryland Disability Law Center?
The home page of their website has this to say about what they do:
"
MDLC envisions a world where people with disabilities are fully included in the workplace, neighborhoods and all aspects of community life. To move us toward this vision, we focus our advocacy toward:
Access to education, housing, health care, and more
Freedom from abuse and neglect and unnecessary institutionalization
Public awareness about people with disabilities and the issues that matter to them "
Under Services and Programs they list the following as their goals for this calendar year:
"Our 2011 advocacy service areas include:
Children’s Mental Health
Adult Mental Health
Developmental Disabilities
Education
Access to Community-based Services for People in Nursing Facilities
Access to Community-based Services for People with Traumatic Brain Injury
Civil Rights in Public Programs
Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security
Voting Rights
Medicaid
Public Policy"
If you need legal support in these areas and are unable to afford legal fees, or if you would like to volunteer your services to the cause, you can read more about Maryland Disability Law Center by visiting this URL, just copy and paste it:
http://www.mdlclaw.org/
I have not personally utilized these services, but if you have, please comment and share your experience with other readers.
The home page of their website has this to say about what they do:
"
MDLC envisions a world where people with disabilities are fully included in the workplace, neighborhoods and all aspects of community life. To move us toward this vision, we focus our advocacy toward:
Access to education, housing, health care, and more
Freedom from abuse and neglect and unnecessary institutionalization
Public awareness about people with disabilities and the issues that matter to them "
Under Services and Programs they list the following as their goals for this calendar year:
"Our 2011 advocacy service areas include:
Children’s Mental Health
Adult Mental Health
Developmental Disabilities
Education
Access to Community-based Services for People in Nursing Facilities
Access to Community-based Services for People with Traumatic Brain Injury
Civil Rights in Public Programs
Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security
Voting Rights
Medicaid
Public Policy"
If you need legal support in these areas and are unable to afford legal fees, or if you would like to volunteer your services to the cause, you can read more about Maryland Disability Law Center by visiting this URL, just copy and paste it:
http://www.mdlclaw.org/
I have not personally utilized these services, but if you have, please comment and share your experience with other readers.
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