Who it is for
Adults in day, residential and employment programs. Students ages 16 to 21. Self-advocate groups. Staff, teachers and caregivers join in, so people with and without disabilities learn together.
What participants practice
- Calming the body with breathing
- Strong posture, safe distance and stop-sign hands
- A loud, clear No and Stop
- Boundaries with people they know, not only strangers
- Handling bullying, bribes, threats and dating pressure
- Leaving, then telling a trusted person
Class participants, IMPACT:Ability
For participants and families
In this class you practice a strong voice and saying No and Stop. You make the rules about your body. In pretend scenes, the teacher wears sunglasses. You choose whether to take each turn. Saying no is always okay. No one touches you without asking first. If someone hurts you, it is never your fault.
How a series runs
Schedule: 12 weekly sessions of 90 minutes at your site.
Group: up to 12 participants and 4 support staff, who practice the same skills.
Teachers: two IMPACT instructors. One coaches. One plays a character in short role-plays.
Choice: participants decide whether to take a turn. Instructors ask before any touch.
Physical level: voice, body language, safe distance and getting away, adapted to each person. People who use wheelchairs have taken part. No striking or padded instructor right now.
Room: private, accessible, open floor, chairs along one wall.
Evidence and partners
A 2014 Journal of School Health study followed 57 Boston high school students with disabilities. Those who took IMPACT:Ability improved more in safety and self-advocacy skills than a wait-list group. The authors said it may be effective and asked for more research. Our Ohio classes were not studied.
In our small 2020 evaluation, participants named about twice as many people to ask for help afterward.
Partners have included Goodwill of Columbus, the Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio, Delaware Area Career Center, Olentangy ACT and county boards of developmental disabilities.
Cost and funding
Full series (12 sessions of 90 minutes, up to 12 participants plus staff): from $7,500 per cohort.
Family or caregiver session: $750.
Supported by the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services. In past years, partners paid part of the cost and grant funds covered the rest. Grant-subsidized seats may be available where funding allows.
Next step
Tell us who you serve and when you hope to start.
Or call (614) 437-2884 or email info@impactsafety.org.