National leader in sexual health advocacy headlines Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Katherine McLaughlin, M.Ed., hosts online discussions about the importance of sexual self-advocacy
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) are disproportionately impacted by all forms of abuse, including sexual assault. According to the U.S. Justice Department, the rate of serious violent crime (rape or sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault) for persons with disabilities is more than three times the rate for persons without disabilities, with 65 percent of crime committed by someone the victim knows and 57 percent occurring during daytime hours.
In April, we recognize Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) and speak to the issues that confront people with I/DD, including how survivors of sexual assault and rape can find it difficult to form close bonds, develop healthy relationships and understand consent.
“It is so important for self-advocates to have social integration at an early age. Even in adulthood when we leave school and transition, knowing how to socialize, not isolate, is important. Isolation is when abuse happens,” says Diana Willard, self-advocate and executive committee member of the Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council.
National expert and acclaimed educator in sexual health, Katherine McLaughlin, M.Ed., will host online discussions about the importance of sexual self-advocacy during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The webinars will occur at 5 p.m., Central Time (CT) on Monday, April 18 and Monday, April 25 and cover healthy relationships (register here) and consent (register here). The series is part of a monthlong campaign to promote self-advocacy among individuals with I/DD from the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Institute for Human Development (UMKC IHD) and the Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council (MODDC). Â
“Healthy vs. Unhealthy” – Monday, April 18 at 5 p.m.
REGISTER HERE: Bit.ly/SAAMHealthy
“Giving and Getting Consent” – Monday, April 25 at 5 p.m.
REGISTER HERE: Bit.ly/SAAMConsent
McLaughlin is the founder of Disability Workshops, now Elevatus Training, LLC, and is leading the national conversation on sexual health, advocacy and training. In Elevatus, she has created an inclusive sexuality education curriculum that focuses on sexual self-advocacy.
“Elevatus firmly believes that sexuality education is the foundation for sexual abuse prevention,” says Katherine McLaughlin, M.Ed. “My workshops on healthy relationships and consent will provide relevant, timely, useful information for self-advocates to build sexual self-advocacy skills and feel empowered.”
In tandem with McLaughlin’s webinar series, UMKC IHD and MODDC will disseminate information on social media that highlights self-advocates, relevant statistics and resources for Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Last year, the two Missouri organizations partnered to develop the Abuse Awareness and Prevention Guide and related resources for people with disabilities, their supporters and all Missourians to be aware of and involved in the prevention and identification of abuse.
In tandem with McLaughlin’s webinar series, UMKC IHD and MODDC will disseminate information on social media that highlights self-advocates, relevant statistics and resources for Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Last year, the two Missouri organizations partnered to develop the Abuse Awareness and Prevention Guide and related resources for people with disabilities, their supporters and all Missourians to be aware of and involved in the prevention and identification of abuse.
Register for the webinar series today
Follow UMKC IHD and MODDC to stay informed on the collaborative awareness efforts throughout Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and register for McLaughlin’s “Healthy vs. Unhealthy” session at Bit.ly/SAAMHealthy or the “Giving and Getting Consent” session at Bit.ly/SAAMConsent.
About the UMKC Institute for Human Development
UMKC-IHD houses the federally designated University Center for Excellence Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) for the state of Missouri. Since 1977, UMKC-IHD has implemented projects that focus on building fully inclusive communities where individuals with disabilities have the capacity and freedom to choose the life they want with the supports they select. UMKC-IHD’s expertise in community applied research, culturally competent staff and polices, strong ability to partner for social change, experience with relevant curriculum and access to existing national dissemination structures makes UMKC-IHD highly qualified in raising awareness around self-advocacy and assault.
About the Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council
The Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council (MODDC) is a federally-funded, 23-member, consumer-driven council appointed by the Governor. Its mandate under P.L. 106-402, the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, is to assure that individuals with developmental disabilities and their families participate in the design of and have access to needed community services, individualized supports, and other forms of assistance that promote self-determination, independence, productivity, and integration in all aspects of community life. To learn more about the work of the MODDC or to get involved, visit: https://moddcouncil.org/.
Information for Media
Katherine McLaughlin is available for interview requests, contact her at https://www.elevatustraining.com/contact-us/. Additional resources, subject matter experts and self-advocate interview subjects are available upon request.
