Below is a list of teaching materials specifically intended for people with developmental disabilities and their caregivers:

Name of Product Medium Description
A Risk Reduction Workbook for Parents and Service Providers: Policies and Practices to Reduce the Risk of Abuse, including Sexual Violence, Against People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
PDF File
Print
This manual is intended to help parents and service providers reduce the risk of abuse to children and adults with developmental disabilities and also provides advice on how to recognize signs of abuse and how to effectively respond if and when it occurs. http://disabilityandabuse.org/books/workbook-brochure.pdf
Safer, Smarter Kids

http://safersmarterkids.org/teachers/curriculum/special-needs/
Lesson Plans
The Lauren’s Kids foundation is dedicated to preventing childhood sexual abuse through education, awareness and advocacy. As part of its Safer, Smarter Kids curriculum, Lauren’s Kids created specialized lesson plans that specifically cater to the needs of children with special needs. The curriculum includes engaging lesson plans that incorporate visual aids to educate children about the importance of body boundaries, personal safety and encourages children to develop a handful of trusted adults. The framework integrates with current autism models and focuses on children recognizing facial cues and situational circumstances to determine what action should be taken to protect themselves.
Sexuality: Your Sons and Daughters with Intellectual Disabilities

Karin Melberg Schwier, David Hingsburger
Book
The book's chapters include "Hold Me Tight", "Put Me Down", "Leave Me Alone", and "Let Me Go"; the authors interweave first person vignettes from parents and from persons with disabilities with the text and their own stories. The final section of the book consists of 17 pages of recommended resources.
Child Sexual Abuse Curriculum for the Developmentally Disabled

Sol R. Rappaport, Ph.D., Sandra A. Burkhardt, Ph.D., and Anthony F. Rotatori, Ph.D.
Printed Curriculum
This curriculum is divided into five parts: "Understanding Child Sexual Abuse of the Developmentally Disabled," "The Treatment of Sexually Abused Children," "Sexual Abuse: The Emotional and Behavioral Sequelae," "Factors That Mediate the Sequelae of Child Sexual Abuse," and "The Rappaport Curriculum for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse in Children with Developmental Disabilities." The last chapter includes 10 lessons on sexuality and sexual abuse prevention for children who are in the mild range of mental retardation. An appendix is included, which parents and caregivers can review with children.
My Body… My Choice

by Shirley Paceley, illustrated by Annette Russo Penhallegon
Book
My Body… My Choice is a fully illustrated, mini-book written for adolescents and adults with developmental disabilities. This book covers the basics of body safety and is empowering people with disabilities across the nation to resist and report sexual abuse. The book can be used in group settings as well as on an individual basis. It has been incorporated into "reading nights" in group homes: used in recovery groups and prevention education classes. It is a simple, straightforward way for parents to teach their children about safety form abuse. It can also be used in peer education and "acted out" by individuals with disabilities.
Genesis: In the Beginning... Breaking the Cycle of Sexual Abuse

by Orieda Horn Anderson and Shirley Paceley
Book
This sexual abuse prevention book targets parents and providers of preschool children with disabilities. This groundbreaking book is an insightful and practical guide which empowers parents, teachers and service providers to give the gift of information to their children about sexuality and safety. The book includes: specific skills to teach young children which may decrease the likelihood of sexual abuse in day care settings: signs of abuse in children with disabilities: and what to do if a child is abused.
Safe Beginnings: Protecting Our Children From Sexual Abuse

by Orieda Horn Anderson and Shirley Paceley
Book
Safe Beginnings is a healthy, affirming, "how to" book which can reduce the risk of sexual abuse of all children, with and without disabilities. This practical and powerful book includes strategies for teaching preschool children self-respect, self-esteem, sexuality and safety: skills to teach children which can empower them to resist and report sexual abuse: techniques for teaching the skills to children with disabilities: how to create safe environments in nurseries, preschools, day care centers and schools: tips for raising boys and girls: what to do if abuse occurs: resources and ideas for social change. This "must read" book is written with wisdom and compassion, as well as real life examples.
LifeFacts Sexual Abuse Prevention: Essential Information About Life...For Persons With Special Needs

Published by James Stanfield Company, Inc
The program comes with 55 11" by 14" laminated illustrations, 55 35mm slides and a curriculum guide. Sexual Abuse Prevention contains all the essential materials and information necessary to teach sexual abuse recognition, prevention and protection strategies for adolescents and adults. The program provides concepts that are presented in simple terms and materials that are logically sequenced and paced for ease of presentation. Pretest and post-test for each of the instructional areas assess entry-level needs and allow evaluation of student understanding of this critical material.
SmartTrust Anti-Gullibility Training: Developing Trust & Exercising Caution in Interpersonal Relationships

Published by James Stanfield Company, Inc.
The program comes with 60 11" by 14" laminated illustrations and a curriculum guide. SmartTrust helps students avoid being gullible and prey to financial, social, physical and emotional exploitation by teaching them SmartTrust strategies to identify when to offer trust and when not to. Included are types of exploitation to which students with special needs are particularly vulnerable.
Sexuality and Sexual Assault Awareness for Empowerment (S.A.F.E.)
Printed curriculum
This new curriculum is designed to assist facilitators in discussing the issues of sexuality, boundaries, sexual assault, and empowerment with individuals with disabilities. "S.A.F.E." is a valuable weapon in the war against sexual violence in the physically disabled community.
Introduction to Sexuality Education for Individuals who are Deaf-Blind and Significantly Developmentally Delayed

By Kate Moss and Robbie Blaha (Texas Deaf-Blind Outreach)
Book
This 126-page document is much like a curriculum, and provides good background and some specific content. While it is written about children and teens who are Deaf-Blind, it is also an excellent general disabilities resource. The chapters include an introduction, guidelines for developing a process for intervention and instruction, and topics such as modesty, appropriate touch and personal boundaries, menstruation, sexual health care, sexual abuse, and a resources section.

This document is available at no cost on the Internet at: http://www.nationaldb.org/documents/products/sex-ed.pdf
Reducing the Risk of Sexual Abuse for People who use Augmentative Communication: A Community Response
Report
This report discusses issues related to the prevention and reporting of sexual abuse committed against persons who use augmentative communication devices. The detailed appendix contains a number of related websites and resources.

Educational Materials from the National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness
Resource List
http://nationaldb.org/ISSelectedTopics.php?topicCatID=20

This link to the website of the National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness offers a list of resources pertaining to social and sexuality education for individuals with visual, hearing, and/or cognitive impairments.

Reducing the Risk: Safety Strategies for People who use Augmentative Communication Devices (ACDs)
Article
Suggestions by persons who use augmentative communication
devices include:
  • Tips for Communicating About Your Boundaries
  • Phrases to Communicate About Your Boundaries
  • Suggested Phrases for use with ACDs
This document is available at no cost on the Internet at:
http://www.accpc.ca/rtr-resources-sayingno.htm
Your Safety… Your Rights: Empowering Adults with Disabilities II
Printed curriculum
This personal safety and abuse prevention curriculum was developed as a tool for educating and empowering adults with physical and mental disabilities. In-depth materials are presented to the trainer in a straightforward and understandable manner. Different learning techniques of participants are addressed through a wide array of tools including handouts and role-playing activities, to name a few.
Combating Violence and Abuse of People with Disabilities: A Call to Action

By Nancy M. Fitzsimons, M.S.W., Ph.D.
Book
In clear and straightforward language, abuse prevention educator Nancy Fitzsimons calls readers to action and gives them the no-nonsense guidance they need to stop violence and abuse before they start. Readers will discover how to
  • help people with a wide range of disabilities learn concrete ways to arm themselves against violence and abuse
  • identify situations that might make a person vulnerable to violence or abuse
  • skillfully recognize the indicators of physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, psychological abuse, and financial exploitation
  • take appropriate action if they suspect or know someone is being abused
  • tear down the personal, societal, and organizational barriers that perpetuate violence and abuse
  • make the most of supportive services and systems, including victim assistance programs, the criminal justice system, and advocacy services
  • conduct effective training sessions that empower and educate people with disabilities about prevention of violence and abuse (includes lessons learned from a model program, the Advocacy and Empowerment Project)
Throughout this practical guide, thought-provoking anecdotes, exercises, and "Ask Yourself" questions help readers relate key concepts to their own lives, examine their beliefs and assumptions about disability and abuse, and expand their knowledge of how to take action. An eye-opening sourcebook for professionals and a must-share with anyone who has a disability, this book is the key to helping people with disabilities fight violence and abuse—and take charge of their bodies and lives
Managing Personal Assistants:  A Consumer Guide
PDF File
This free consumer guide features information on recruiting, hiring, training, keeping, and firing personal assistants, as well as on funding sources and taxes. This guide also contains forms that guide the consumer through the process of managing personal assistants.  This document is available for free on the Internet via the following link: http://www.pva.org/
Safety Planning: A Guide for Individuals with Physical Disabilities
PDF File
This safety plan is designed to help adults with physical disabilities who have been or may be abused by an intimate partner, spouse, adult child, other family member, personal assistant, or caregiver. This safety plan can also be useful for people with mental, cognitive, developmental disabilities, and those who have hidden disabilities. The brochure includes sections on: planning for an explosive incident; safety during an explosive incident; safety in your home; safety when preparing to leave; safety in public settings; and safety with a restraining order. This document is available for free on the Internet via the following link:  http://www.vawnet.org/Assoc_Files_VAWnet/DisabilitySafetyPlan.pdf
A Step-by-Step Guide to Training and Managing Personal Assistants: A Consumer Guide
PDF File
This guide includes sample documents that you can use for hiring and managing personal assistants. This document is available for free on the Internet via the following link: http://www.rtcil.org/
Safety Planning: How You Can Help
PDF File
A safety planning guide for individuals with a cognitive disability. This document is available for free on the Internet via the following link: http://www.ncall.us/
The Circles Programs

Nearly all resources for sexual abuse prevention information for persons with developmental disabilities refer to the Circles programs by Marilyn P. Champagne and Leslie W. Walker-Hirsch. This curriculum is designed for use with persons with mild to moderate developmental disabilities.

The program guides learners in identifying the physical conduct appropriate for persons in a series of concentric circles, working outward from the center which is the most intimate level of physical contact. A few persons may be in the "close hug" circle while others are in the "wave" circle and still others in the "stranger" circle. This curriculum may be more costly than families can afford but, once purchased by an agency or organization, would be very useful for many years to come.

There are four programs in this series (Level 1, Level 2, Stop Abuse, AIDS: Safer Ways).

Circles: Intimacy and Relationships
Level 1
The program comes with 12 video tapes, a 5' by 10' wall teaching graph, 50 large laminated graph icons, student "personal" graphs with 300 Peel n' Stick Icons and one teacher's guide. The classic video program, used in over 10,000 facilities across the U.S., helps your students to recognize exploitative relationships as well as develop mutually respectful ones. Part I: Social Distance is comprised of 11 video programs designed to help your students "see" social and sexual distance, and explains the relationship between the level of intimacy between people and the way the TOUCH, TALK to and TRUST each other. Students will learn "relationship boundaries" and relationship specific behaviors, i.e., it's okay to hug your mother, it's not okay to hug the mailman.

In Part 2: Relationship Building, six video programs demonstrate how intimacy levels change as relationships change. The role of mutual choice among individuals is emphasized, a critical concept for protecting students from exploitation. The real strength of Circles Level I: Intimacy & Relationships is that it presents to special students some extremely abstract concepts in a very simple and concrete manner. The connection between the kind of relationship and the corresponding level of intimacy is demonstrated visually, making learning this important content area easy for students.
Circles: Intimacy and Relationships
Level 2
Includes: 12 Video Tapes, Teacher Guide, Giant Wall Graph

Circles, Level 2, because it uses a "reality-show" format is ideal for illustrating more subtle applications of the Circles Rules of Social Distance, presented in Circles Level 1. Level 2 is an ideal "second step" program for students with moderate to mild cognitive and can be used as a stand- alone introduction for higher functioning and regular students. New Content

  • Alternative Intimacy Level signs
  • Circle Jumping, when it's OK and when it's NOT
  • Reversal of Intimacy Level
  • Rejecting Intimacy and Having Intimacy Rejected
  • Relationship Dissolution
And Much, Much More
Circles: Stop Abuse The program comes with three video tapes, a 5' by 10' wall graph and one teacher's guide. Your students are prime targets for abuse. Teach them how to recognize and avoid sexually threatening or abusive situations with CIRCLES: Stop Abuse. The video program illustrates step-by-step lessons and strategies to recognize abusive behavior. Real-life demonstrations of how to take positive action if feeling exploited are included. This quality program uses the famous CIRCLES paradigm and was created by education and health care professionals sensitive to the needs of persons with developmental disabilities.
Part 1: Recognizing and Reacting to Sexual Exploitation Encourages your students to be assertive. Illustrates how to recognize and react to sexual exploitation occurring in close relationships with dates, close friends and relatives. Teaches students that they don't have to participate in physical contact that does not feel good to them.
Part 2: Learning Appropriate Protective Behaviors Illustrates the potential for sexual abuse from acquaintances and strangers. Students will learn to identify inappropriate behavior and initiate protective measures against unwanted advances.
Circles: Safer Ways Also included are six video tapes, supplemental materials and one comprehensive teacher's guide. CIRCLES video program will bring your students current information on avoiding and treating communicable diseases and in the process teach them ways to protect themselves against sexually transmitted diseases.
Part 1: Communicable Disease and Casual Contact Illustrates steps that can be taken to lessen the chances of catching a communicable disease. Four dramatized sequences model good health habits and provide the necessary readiness for the sensitive information in Part 2.
Part 2: STDs, AIDS and Intimate Contact Explains the difference between "casual" and "intimate" contact. Promotes positive decision-making, including abstinence, to best avoid STDs and AIDS. Real-life dramatic sequences present young people making decisions that help them stay healthy. Dispels myths regarding transmission of diseases and clearly illustrates risk factors. You'll also receive a general and explicit version of How AIDS and STDs Are Contracted. You decide which level is most appropriate for your students/community!
Each program comes with both a general and explicit version of "How AIDS and STD's are Contracted" so that you can decide which level is most appropriate for your students and community.