Building Capacity for Sexual Harm Survivors With IDD to Engage in Healing-Centered Outcomes Research

2026

Most research on trauma and healing for people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) is not designed or carried out by people with lived experience. This project centers the experiences, needs, and strengths of survivors of sexual harm with IDD to shape future research topics and designs. In the first year of the project, we worked with an inclusive team and a community advisory board of people with lived experience to develop a co-researcher training guide. Next, we used the training guide with a cohort of co-researchers with lived experience to build skills for doing healing-centered research. From here, we hope to create opportunities for more trauma-informed and accessible research that supports healing for people with IDD.

Developmental Disabilities, Health Equity, Survivors of sexual violence

Training Trainees, Performing Research or Evaluation

Health-Related Activities, Other - Leadership

Community Trainees / Short term trainees, Professionals and Para-Professionals, Adults with Disabilities

Specific Groups

National

N/A