PAR Mail 2018-159 | August 10, 2018
PAR Action Plan : Building Healthy Relationships and Preventing Abuse
PAR Responds to ODP Call to Action
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has asked each organization represented on ODP's Information Sharing and Advisory Committee (ISAC) to develop an action plan to describe how it will address the issue of sexual abuse of people with intellectual disability or autism, saying: Our intention is to publish a document that represents the efforts of all the stakeholders to make sure that everyone who has a role in supporting people with disabilities, will not only recognize individuals’ rights to express their sexuality and have relationships, but also their right to be free of sexual abuse. The challenge is to reach people with disabilities, family members and direct support staff that touch their lives every day. Action plans were due on July 31, 2018 with the goal of being published in an ODP publication in August.
This challenge was quickly embraced by PAR's Board of Directors, who issued the challenge throughout our association and community, starting with PAR's workgroups. The Board agreed that PAR's Action Plan should not be limited to one type of abuse or relationship but rather involve in-depth discussion of the breadth and depth of relationships.

The Board also recognized that in addition to management practices, the key to quality in preventing abuse and building healthy relationships is a stable, qualified, well-trained workforce.
View PAR's Action Plan Submitted on July 31, 2018 Here