That’s why people with intellectual disabilities should be included in that group. They have the same desire and yearning to connect with others; thus, they need to take the same precautions to make sure they protect themselves from this potentially deadly virus and other sexually transmitted diseases. But how do we teach them about sexuality in a way that will encourage safe and positive interactions?

The President and Founder of Tech-Aid, Dr. Jennifer Wells, recently spoke about the importance of protecting this special population on the national radio show, Disabled World:   Tech-Aid Interview with Disabled World.  During her years of working with people with intellectual disabilities and learning disabilities like autism, Dr. Wells realized that people in these groups were very capable of learning and growing if they were given the right learning tools.  That awareness along with years of research in the field is what convinced her to embark into the multi-media world to develop interactive CD-ROMS and DVDs that would teach this special, but often forgotten population about critical public health issues like HIV/AIDS  Prevention.

Under the guidance of Dr. Wells, our team released Live Safe: Preventing HIV/AIDS for women with Intellectual Disabilities.  The Tech-Aid Website reads: “This  interactive computer program focuses on understanding HIV & AIDS, revealing the facts and myths about how HIV is transmitted. Users are taught the importance of HIV testing, the risks associated with unprotected sex and prevention strategies, including abstinence. The proper use and storage of condoms is also demonstrated.  The user’s guide has teaching points that go along with the program content.”   You can check out our program for women right here:  Tech-Aid Demo.

We are now in the process of developing a similar HIV/AID prevention program for men with intellectual disabilities.  Our research team is currently working with The Arc of San Francisco and other groups to interview men for our program.

So far, the response to our women’s program has been excellent.  We just need more people to help us, though, reach this population with these potentially life-saving messages about HIV/AIDS prevention.   Our goal is to get this educational tool into the hands of parents, caregivers, and of course, adults with intellectual disabilities and other learning disabilities before its too late.

How do we get to a teachable moment? Through opportunity. For people with intellectual disabilities, we need to create opportunities to facilitate life-long learning. How do we create opportunities? We get interested. We take interest in this population, their lives, their needs, their friends, their vocations.

Many adults with intellectual disabilities live with their parents or in the community in independent or semi-independent living situations. Those in independent or semi-independent living situations often have little contact with family. They are truly “on their own.” This is a two-edged sword. It’s clearly good that they are living out on their own, but that’s also leaving them vulnerable to many harmful situations.

That’s why we at Tech-Aid believe that our interactive soft-ware that focuses on potentially life-saving public health issues like HIV/AIDS prevention is a vital tool to help protect adults in this especially vulnerable population. We utilize our decades of research and expertise in this field to carefully design software programs that will educate adults with intellectual disabilities, and provide their parents or caregivers with a powerful and effective way to inform them about these critical public health issues that affect all of us.

We need to give everyone, including people with intellectual disabilities, the opportunity to grasp this teachable moment that could even save their life.

Why is this such a problem?

One reason is that as all people, people with ID want friendships, and often prefer friends without obvious disabilities. Many people who are stable, sane, and intelligent don’t think to befriend a person with ID. Many people don’t want to befriend a person with ID.

People with ID are capable of learning throughout their lifetimes, and they need supportive, not predatory friends to reach their maximum potential. As a society, we need to step forward and look beyond ourselves. See the people that could use a hand up, and be there with that hand.

The fact that institutions closed, that people with ID are seen in the community, in workplaces, and in places of leisure all has to do with lawsuits and legislation, and the missing piece is that you can’t legislate friendship.

Be there for these people, as you are there for one-another. Take on one new friend, someone you see regularly on the bus or subway or at the local coffee shop. Become part of their life, and let them become part of yours. The rewards are not financial, but the experience will enrich your lives.

Be a friend.

As most of you know, there is a lot of information on the internet about emergency planning and preparedness. Our concern is that it is all text-based and requires fairly high levels of reading ability. The program we’re working on is relatively text-free and will make extensive use of animation, video, graphics, and audio to convey critical content to this vulnerable population.

If knowledge is power, then it is our responsibility to empower people with intellectual disabilities about what to do in times of crisis.

Hoping to connect with some of you as we move forward on this project.

The program also teaches about using a digital thermometer and comes with a match-to-sample fever guide to help people know when it is time to contact their doctor.

Check it out at www.techaidinstitute.com under “our products.”

Critical information for critical times.