Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are 7 times more likely to be a victim of sexual violence than those without IDD

The Arc of New Jersey, Inc. was awarded a $113,000 project grant from the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance under the Congressionally Recommended Awards program. This funding will support the development and implementation of healthy sexuality education curricula and community-based programs aimed at preventing sexual violence against individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. On October 1, 2022, The Arc of New Jersey received this grant to design and deliver educational interventions for youth and adults with IDD through December 2023. Given individuals with IDD experience sexual assault at seven times the national average, this project aims to address this public health crisis by increasing access to sex education and raising awareness of the issue. The Arc of New Jersey will use the funding to cover program costs as it works with schools and community groups to deliver these new education and prevention initiatives.

This project will address this public health crisis by focusing on the prevention of sexual violence against this population, thereby investing in a safe and healthy future for individuals with IDD. The project will develop and implement a healthy sexuality education curriculum for youth with IDD in the schools. IT will also develop and implement community-based programs for adults with IDD who did not have this educational opportunity in the past and have therefore faced significant disadvantages. The funding will be used to cover program costs, including salaries and benefits, for a program that will research, design and implement community interventions aimed at preventing sexual violence against people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The program will work to increase healthy SEX education for individuals with IDD, work with schools and community groups to deliver the education, and increase public understanding of the issue.