News & Tips

Sponsored by the CT Tech Act Project (the Connecticut AT Act Program) and the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism, Oak Hill’s New England Assistive Technology (NEAT) Center is hosting free awareness and skill-building webinars that take aim at the #SevenTimes statistic.

Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities face a rate of sexual assault and abuse that is at least seven times higher than those without disabilities.*

Communication and Education: Tools for Ending the Sexual Assault Epidemic for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Over the course of three lunch-hour sessions, professionals with a variety of backgrounds will discuss the barriers and unique safety risks that individuals with autism and other disabilities face. Participants will learn strategies for prevention, response, and reporting, as well as ways to build a culture of consent that supports safe, healthy, fulfilling relationships of all kinds. Resources, including assistive technology suggestions, will be shared to offer participants next steps for collectively breaking down these barriers. Human services professionals, school teams, legal advocates, administrators, family members, and more are all invited to join the conversation.

Part 1 – Wednesday, October 20th, 2021

“Knowledge is Power – Using Education to Prevent Violence and Support Healthy Relationships” with Brenna Doyle, MA, MS, Sexual Health Educator and Consultant for Oak Hill’s Center for Relationship and Sexuality Education.

Part 2 – Thursday, October 21st, 2021

“Attacking the Sexual Assault Epidemic with Communication” with Elena Fader, M.A. CCC-SLP, Director of Assistive Technology Services at NEAT.

Part 3 – Friday, October 22nd, 2021

An Expert Panelist Discussion with

• Robin Moyher, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA of Moyher Applied Behavior Analysis Consulting;
• Kaitlyn Fenner, LCSW, Program Manager-Outpatient Services at Marne Street Clinic/Clifford Beers;
• Lisa Murphy-Cipolla, LMFT, Clinical Services Coordinator, Greater Hartford Family Advocacy Center of Saint Francis Hospital; and
• Monica Madigan, LCS, Lead Social Worker-Forensic Interviewer at Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital Child Advocacy Center.

All sessions will be held from 12:00-1:30 pm ET. Participation in all three days is not required but highly recommended. A link to join virtually will be shared to all registrants prior to the event.

Register for the free #SevenTimes Webinars Series

Questions? Contact CentersConnect@oakhillct.org

More #SevenTimes Resources

How I Communicate–A Tool for #SevenTimes

AT Tips for #SevenTimes — Ending Sexual Abuse of Persons with Disabilities

*NPR Article: The Sexual Assault Epidemic No One Talks About