Training Sessions

LEAP, Leadership for Empowerment and Abuse Prevention is a four-session 90-minute training designed for adults with intellectual disability about healthy relationships. LEAP is taught by a person with a disability, and a co-trainer to small groups of 10 or fewer participants.

LEAP was created with input from a team that included people with intellectual and developmental disabilities at its foundation, along with a multidisciplinary team of professionals from the fields of health, social services, domestic violence, special educators, child and disability advocates and family members.

Core Concepts of LEAP

Session 1: Basics of relationships	What is a friend? What does trust mean and who should be trusted?
Session 2: What is a healthy relationship?	Reinforcement of the key concepts from session one Characteristics of healthy, unhealthy, or confusing relationships Correct names for private body parts and why it is necessary to use them Rules surrounding consent and the meaning behind “saying yes, saying no, or saying nothing” How do you like to say “No”?
Session 3: Healthy Touch	Reinforcement of the key concepts from sessions one and two The meaning of healthy, unhealthy, or confusing touch  Rules for healthy touch are explained
Session 4: When and How to Get Help	Reinforcement of the key concepts from the three previous sections How to get help if someone is in an unhealthy or confusing relationship  How to get help if someone is in immediate danger of abuse Who to contact in confusing and unhealthy situations

What is required to host a LEAP training session?

Thanks to the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, LEAP sessions may be offered at no cost to the participants or the providing agency. In order to host LEAP, there must be:

• At least 5 participants who agree to participate in all four sessions
• A quiet room with tables, chairs, and a screen or wall to project a power point
• Allowance for LEAP trainers access to the room 30 minutes prior to the start of the training to set up the space

Involving Paid Staff in LEAP Training

LEAP is designed specifically for people with disabilities, not for support staff. A companion guide for LEAP, along with video summaries of each session may be found on the Partner Guide for Staff and Family Members page.