A friendships and dating program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities: a formative evaluation.
Meaningful relationships with others are often elusive for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, but no less desired for their full inclusion and participation in society. It is well documented that people with disabilities are victims of interpersonal violence at higher rates than peers without disabilities. This article presents a formative evaluation of the Friendships and Dating Program (FDP). The FDP was designed to teach the social skills needed to develop healthy, meaningful relationships and to prevent violence in dating and partnered relationships. Thirty-one adults were recruited by 5 community agencies in Alaska to participate. The results showed the size of the participants' social networks increased and the number of incidents of interpersonal violence was reduced for participants who completed the FDP, and outcomes were maintained 10 weeks later.
UAA Center for Human Development, 2702 Gambell Street, Suite 103, Anchorage, Alaska 99503, USA. kmward@uaa.alaska.edu
Karen M
KM
Ward
Julie P
JP
Atkinson
Curtis A
CA
Smith
Richard
R
Windsor
D000328:Adult; D003380:Courtship / Q000523:psychology*; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology*; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010379:Peer Group; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D012919:Social Behavior; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology