Protecting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities from sexual violence through Special Olympics education
Official title: Evaluating and strengthening Special Olympics' approach to sexual violence prevention
Funded at Seattle Children's Hospital · NIH-11421114 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A program is testing a Special Olympics curriculum that teaches healthy relationships, consent, and safety to adults with IDD to reduce risk of sexual violence.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Seattle Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2025 |
| Project end | September 29, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $373,999 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CE003785-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11421114 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with IDD who participate in Special Olympics programs and are able to engage with the curriculum.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals who cannot participate in the curriculum or do not have exposure to the program may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project partners with Special Olympics to deliver a curriculum about consent, bodily autonomy, and safety to athletes with IDD through coaches and team settings. It aims to rigorously evaluate whether the program reduces risk factors and improves protection against coercive behaviors. The study will involve real-world implementation in communities and measure outcomes related to safety, reporting, and access to resources. Participants are adults with IDD who participate in Special Olympics programs in the United States, with data collected through program activities and follow-up.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could lessen exposure to sexual violence and strengthen protective networks for adults with IDD.
How similar studies have gone: There is limited rigorous evaluation of preventive practices for SV among IDD populations, so this study addresses a relatively new area.
Where this research is happening
-
Seattle Children's Hospital
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kroshus-Havril, Emily Grace — Seattle Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Kroshus-Havril, Emily Grace
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.