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More Info: Caitie Jones (907) 264-6262 cmjones@alaska.edu 

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. In 2014, at the request from behavioral health providers familiar with the program, a version of the FDP was developed for youth with serious emotional disturbance (SED). 

​​The FDP 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. The curriculum is designed to be taught in small groups of 6-10 mixed-gendered participants.

Publications

• Ward, K.M., Atkinson, J.P., Smith, C.A., & Windsor, R. (2013). A friendships & dating program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A formative evaluation. American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 51(1), 22-32.
• Atkinson, J.P., & Ward, K.M. (2012). The development of an assessment of interpersonal violence for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Sexuality and Disability, 30(3), 301-309. doi 10.1007/s11195-012-9275-3
• Ward, K. M., Windsor, R., & Atkinson, J. P. (2012). A process evaluation of the Friendships and Dating Program for adults with developmental disabilities: Measuring the fidelity of program delivery. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 33(1), 69-75. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2011.08.016

Resources

• Building Virtual Bridges: A guide to distance delivered microenterprise training with a focus on disadvantaged populations (2013)

• Traumatic and Acquired Brain Injury Legal Needs Assessment
  • Traumatic and Acquired Brain Injury Legal Needs Assessment - Infographic

• Anchorage Collaborative Coalitions 
  • Anchorage Youth and Young Adult Behavioral Health and Wellness Assessment (2015)
• Promotion, Prevention, and Preparedness for Alaskan with Disabilities & Health Program Needs Assessment (2014)

• Abuse and Interpersonal Violence Among Alaska Adults with Disabilities
• Traumatic and Acquired Brain Injury Legal Needs Assessment - Infographic (2019)

• Building Virtual Bridges: A guide to distance delivered microenterprise training with a focus on disadvantaged populations (2013)

Publications

Vandagriff, K.L., Heath, K. (2017). Alaska case study: Pathway to employment for all in the last frontier! Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 47(3), 295-306. DOI: 10.3233/JVR-170903 

Heath, K. L., Ward, K. M., & Reed, D.L. (2013). Customized self-employment and the use of Discovery for entrepreneurs with disabilities, Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 39(2), 23-27. DOI: 

Heath, K. L. & Reed, D. L. (2013). Industry-Driven Support (IDS) model to build social capital and business skills of low-income entrepreneurs with disabilities. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 38(2), 139-148. DOI: 10.3233/JVR-130627

• Physical Activity and Nutrition Among Alaskan Adults with Disabilities
• Sexual Health Among Alaskan Adults with Disabilities 
• Substance Use Among Alaskan Adults with Disabilities
• Tobacco Use Among Alaskan Adults with Disabilities

Publications

Ward, K.M., Atkinson, J.P., Smith, C.A., & Windsor, R. (2013). A friendships & dating program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A formative evaluation. American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 51(1), 22-32.

Atkinson, J.P., & Ward, K.M. (2012). The development of an assessment of interpersonal violence for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Sexuality and Disability, 30(3), 301-309. doi 10.1007/s11195-012-9275-3

Ward, K. M., Windsor, R., & Atkinson, J. P. (2012). A process evaluation of the Friendships and Dating Program for adults with developmental disabilities: Measuring the fidelity of program delivery. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 33(1), 69-75. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2011.08.016

• Communications Guide for Individuals with Disabilities