Sexual violence is a global public health crisis.

While we are grateful to train about healthy sexual development and healthy relationships, we want to acknowledge there is an undeniable privilege in being able to discuss healthy aspects of relationships and sexuality. This is a privilege many people do not have.

In places around the world (including in the United States) there are countless people for whom sexuality, gender identity and relationships are still basic issues of survival. Concerns such as domestic and intimate partner violence, the murder of people who are transgender, sexual abuse by a family member, genital mutilation, sexual misconduct by a faith leader, sexual harassment in the workplace, military sexual assault, and much more plague our societies and create enormous physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual trauma. The fallout of this reality has enormous social and financial costs.

• Sexuality is a birth-to-death experience - regardless of someone’s sexual activities or experiences

• Sexual exploration and play are a natural part of a person’s development – starting in childhood

• Puberty is going to change a person’s body, hormones, and sexual drive; and some people with developmental disabilities experience puberty even younger than the average population

The assumptions underlying all of our trainings are:

• Everyone has the same legal rights to explore and express their sexuality, gender, and relationships.

• Relationships and sexuality are essential to a person’s identity, meeting their basic needs, their perception of their quality of life, and their overall health and well-being.

• Sexuality is much more than “intercourse” (or sexual activities); it is a birth-to-death human experience; interconnected with just about every aspect of our life.

• As parents and professionals, we need to prevent abuse, exploitation and assault; and we need to realize that people with disabilities are victimized at much higher rates than the average population.

• Violence Prevention = Health Promotion & Dismantling Oppression; so for example: in order to prevent sexual violence we must promote healthy sexuality

Among Friends aims to help people keep their behaviors SAFE, HEALTHY, LEGAL, and “SITUATIONALLY APPROPRIATE” so they can maintain their services, housing, access to school, job, etc.

Our trainings emphasize:

• Supporting the whole person and their full human experience

• Promoting alternative behaviors that are safe, healthy and legal

• Helping people meet their basic human needs

• Protecting their legal rights

• Improving their quality of life and increasing their independence

People with cognitive and social challenges who do not receive education and skill-building make serious mistakes that can have catastrophic consequences.

• Engage in risky, dangerous, and socially problematic behaviors

• Become socially ostracized

• Experience increased loneliness and isolation

• Increased health risks

• Increased risks of victimization and perpetration

• Increased restrictions

• Decreased access to programs and funding

• Decreased self-determination

• Decreased quality of life

• Increase in acting out and rebellious behaviors