The Friendships & Dating Program (FDP) is an evidence-based, comprehensive approach to teach individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities the skills needed to develop meaningful relationships and prevent interpersonal violence created by the Center for Human Development at the University of Alaska Anchorage.
The Friendships and Dating Program is a 10-week curricular intervention that focuses on skill building using a group process and experiential learning opportunities. The FDP is a train-the-trainer program; community agency personnel facilitate the program to groups of teens and adults in agency and community settings after being trained. FDP Topics include: feelings, relationships, boundaries, communication, meeting people, first impressions, planning social activities, the dating process, personal safety, sexual health, recognizing differences, conflict resolution, and maintaining relationships.
The Center for Leadership in Disability at Georgia State University, after becoming FDP facilitators, is training professionals and organizations while utilizing this curriculum to assist inclusive post secondary education students and community members with intellectual disabilities in developing interpersonal skills needed for building relationships, dating, and beyond.
Sexual health education is a taboo topic, especially in education, particularly in educating persons with intellectual disabilities. Persons with intellectual disabilities experience a higher rate of interpersonal violence than persons without disabilities. This calls attention to a need for social skill development and sexual health education.
If you or your organization are interested in being trained to implement this social skills and sexual health curriculum, please contact us at [email protected].