The free webinar program “Navigating Healthy Relationships” — designed to educate adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities about relationships, their bodies, sexual health, and person advocacy — is making its return thanks to a partnership between The Arc Livingston and LACASA.
“We are so proud of the ongoing partnership between our agencies to address this critical need for our community members with developmental or intellectual disabilities,” said Laura Sauer, executive director of The Arc Livingston.
This series marks the eighth time the two organizations have come together to offer an engaging and informative course that plays a crucial role in supporting the safety and well-being of this vulnerable population.
“This course gives us the opportunity to have open, honest, and often lively conversations about what healthy relationships really look like, which is an essential part of prevention,” said Sherry Boroto, LACASA’s sexual assault response team manager.
According to the Department of Justice, people with intellectual or developmental disabilities are 7 times more likely to experience sexual abuse than people without disabilities.
Course Details:
The Navigating Healthy Relationships free webinar series will begin January 23, 2025, and will run every Thursday evening from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. through mid-July. The sessions will cover essential topics, including:
- Starting and maintaining healthy relationships
- Communicating effectively with a partner
- Navigating challenging or unhealthy relationships
- Understanding sexual feelings and boundaries
- Becoming a self-advocate, and much more.
The course is open to adults aged 18 and older, and participants do not need to live in Livingston County to attend. This series is part of a paid research study conducted by the University of New Mexico; however, participation in the study is optional. Participants who choose to participate in the study will be compensated for their attendance. Those who do not wish to participate in the research are still welcome to join the series.
For more information and to register, visit https://www.arclivingston.com/navigating-healthy-relationships/
