Effectiveness of the IMPACT:Ability program to improve safety and self-advocacy skills in high school students with disabilities.
BACKGROUND
Individuals with disabilities experience higher rates of abuse than the nondisabled. Few evidence-based prevention interventions have been published despite a need for such work. This study evaluated


CONCLUSIONS
Ability, a safety and self-advocacy training for individuals with cognitive and/or physical disabilities.


METHODS
A quasi-experimental design was used to assess change in safety and self-advocacy knowledge, confidence, and behaviors among special education high school students in Boston, MA. Instruments were interviewer-administered at 3 time points. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to compare change between the intervention (N = 21) and wait-list (N = 36) groups. Repeated measures analysis was used to test change in the complete sample (N = 57).


RESULTS
Students were diverse (58% males, 82% nonwhite) with a range of disabilities. Significantly greater improvement in key outcomes, including safety and self-advocacy knowledge, confidence, and behavior, were observed in intervention students compared to the wait-list group. Results in the complete sample showed evidence of further improvements in students' sense of safety and general self-efficacy.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings are encouraging given the effects were demonstrated in a heterogeneous urban population.


CONCLUSIONS
Ability may be an effective safety and self-advocacy training for students with disabilities. Further research will be required to determine effectiveness within particular subpopulations of students.
Institute for Community Health, Harvard Medical School, 163 Gore St., Cambridge, MA 02141. edryden@challiance.org.
Eileen M
EM
Dryden
Jeffery
J
Desmarais
Lisa
L
Arsenault
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001900:Boston; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D004519:Education, Special / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012449:Safety; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013334:Students; D055815:Young Adult
disability; safety; school; self-advocacy; training