Unique Experiences

Item Description

Nora J. Baladerian, Ph.D. in person training** either a full (6 hours) or half-day (3 hours) training in either English or Spanish; bidder pays Dr. Baladerian’s travel expenses. One training from the following training choices may be selected:

FORENSIC INTERVIEWING SKILLS TO USE WITH INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES AND/OR COMMUNICATION DISABILITIES (6 hours)
This training is directed to those responding to reports of sexual abuse: police, protective services, EMT’s. The focus is on improving familiarity with and understanding of individuals with developmental disabilities, and learning the steps to having a positive and viable case outcome. The program is based on Dr. Baladerian’s book on the topic and the DVD she produced under a grant from the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) that demonstrates the techniques and approaches. The program includes a screening of this DVD.

FORENSIC ASSESSMENT OF CONSENT TO SEX - (3 hours)
When rape is alleged, how can anyone determine if the victim really had been a victim or was, in fact, a willing partner? Depending upon the laws in your state or how your state practices the balance between protection and claiming one’s sexual rights, this program will use your State’s definition, gauge actual practices, and assist for cases brought to the prosecutor on how to use the instrument designed by the author/presenter. This program examines with the audience rights in law, in practice, and how to assess that the individual was a victim of a sexual assault or inadvertent application of the law when consent actually was present.

RISK REDUCTION PLANNING FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS: TO REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OR IMPACT OF ABUSE (3 hours)
The existence of the problem of sexual abuse among children and adults with disabilities is one that should be discussed with one’s family. How to reduce the probability that one’s child may be victimized and training the individual in “what to do when” an assault occurs as well as planning for after it is over are essential. Exact ideas and implementation of such plans is included in this program for parents, those acting in loco parentis, and individuals with disabilities.

THE RULES OF SEX: DISCUSSING ACTUAL LAWS AND SOCIAL RULES TO AVOID ARREST (3 hours)
Often young (and older) individuals with developmental disabilities are arrested for innocent conduct. The law says that “ignorance of the law is no excuse”; however, often people with developmental disabilities have not been taught the laws and in fact understanding “the law”, an abstract concept, is difficult...not to mention that most parents are not aware of all of the sex-related laws in their state! Based on her book, The Rules of Sex: For Those Who Have Never Been Told, Dr. Baladerian will discuss these laws, how to teach them, and how to have fun doing so! This is not a “sex education” program, but rather a program to keep our loved ones from being inappropriately arrested, frightened, and humiliated publicly.

TREATMENT FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (3 or 6 hours)
This can be a review or an intensive workshop for providing psychological treatment for crime victims with developmental (or any) disabilities. The program will spend some time reviewing the general sequaele of abuse both short term and long term, yet the majority of the time will be spent on specialized treatment approaches that have been found effective with this population, including autism, intellectual disability (including profound mental retardation), and many other types of disability.

COMPASSION FATIGUE: RISK REDUCTION & TREATMENT FOR ADMINISTRATORS AND STAFF HELPING VICTIMS OF CRIME (3 hours)
This is for the staff who are regularly exposed to traumatic information. Avoiding Post Traumatic Stress Disorder through Secondary Victimization is a necessity for those in these jobs. One should consider Secondary Trauma as a job risk. This program addresses how to reduce the risk of acquiring Vicarious Trauma as well as treatment in case it happens to you. This is an information packed 3 hours, with many approaches to self-care and self-healing as well as utilizing outside resources.

Item Special Note

Dr. Nora Baladerian is an internationally recognized Clinical Psychologist who specializes in working with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Dr. Baladerian is fluent in Spanish.

** Offer is good November, 2011 - October, 2012 and must be a mutually agreed upon time between winning bidder and Dr. Baladerian who will require at least 2 nights perhaps 3 at the hotel, depending on the location.