We have just learned from our colleagues at RespectAbility that NPR is starting a series of pieces tomorrow and lasting through the next two weeks, on sexual harassment and sexual assault and people with I/DD.
Some of you may know that NPR veteran reporter Joe Shapiro, who will be doing this series, is a long-time collaborator and supporter of our work in the disability community. RespectAbility reports that much of the information for this series comes from their
earlier report on
disability and criminal justice reform, where they highlighted issues around sexual assault of People with Disabilities and an earlier piece they had published on that topic. We
are grateful to RespectAbility for pushing for this important topic to be addressed.
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At a moment of reckoning in the United States about sexual harassment and sexual assault, a yearlong NPR investigation finds that there's little recognition of a group of Americans
that is one of the most at risk: adults with intellectual disabilities. The series starts on Monday, January 8 and runs through January 18th.
Jan 8: Morning Edition. Correspondent Joe Shapiro talks about the series with host Steve Inskeep
Jan 8: All Things Considered: The epidemic of sexual abuse of people with intellectual disabilities. Numbers obtained by NPR show they are sexually assaulted at rates more than 7 times those for all adults without disabilities.
Jan 9: Morning Edition: A visit to a Sex Ed class for people with intellectual disabilities. They talk about how they want relationships, but how the sexual violence of their past often gets in the way.
Jan 10: All Things Considered: On cases that go unnoticed when people have difficulty communicating.
Jan 16: All Things Considered: Police and prosecutors are often reluctant to take these cases. NPR goes back to Essex County, New Jersey, where the first case to get widespread attention--in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, 25 years ago--was prosecuted. And look at
what prosecutors have learned since.
Jan 18: Morning Edition: Therapists Nora Baladerian and Karyn Harvey talk about the stunning violence in the lives of their clients.
Jan 18: All Things Considered: Self-advocates speak--thoughtfully--of the effects of sexual violence. This piece is entirely in the voices of people with intellectual disabilities (plus Joe Shapiro).
There will be print stories (with photos and art) on-line at npr.org. And the radio stories can be heard there.
Please check your local listings for when/how you can hear these stories on NPR.
Best,
Donna
Donna A. Meltzer, CEO
National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities
1825 K Street, NW Suite 600
Washington, DC 20006
202-506-5813 extension 103
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