Overview:
Women with intellectual disabilities are seven times more likely than the general population to be victims of sexual abuse. Our systems can often create the problems that put this population at higher risk, including trained compliance, lack of relationship and sex education, isolation, and not believing victims. This training is meant for any caregiver who wants to learn more about what they can do to reduce risk by becoming more comfortable and knowledgeable about abusive relationships and how to talk about them. Participants will learn how to recognize signs of an unhealthy relationship, different types of abuse, the abuse cycle, proactive tips for teaching neurodivergent youth and adults about healthy relationships, how to respond to suspected or reported abuse, and how to encourage youth and adults with disabilities to think critically and make their own decisions when it comes to safe relationships.
Register Here $35
Registration closes Tuesday, February 24 at 4:00 PM.
Training check in begins at 8:45 am.
About the Presenter:
Ellen Merker, M.S. LPC, founding director of Heart Consulting LLC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in trauma therapy for kids, teens, and adults with developmental disabilities. She received her Master’s in Rehabilitation Psychology from UW-Madison, and has been working with neurodivergent kids, teens, and adults in various roles for 15 years. Ellen uses neurodivergent affirmative, sex-positive, and trauma-informed approaches in all work. In addition to trauma therapy, Heart Consulting also works to reduce gendered violence against people with developmental disabilities through education and training. Ellen also has extensive speaking experience, and has presented at conferences including Wisconsin Human Trafficking Conference, WI Planned Parenthood, National Project Search Conference, Wisconsin Reproductive Health Conference, and the Circles of Life Conference.
This training meets the continuing education requirements for social workers as prescribed by the WI Department of Regulation and Licensing.