NIH-funded research U01 cooperative agreement

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 typeU01 cooperative agreement
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionSeattle Children's Hospital
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Seattle, United States)
Project startSeptember 30, 2025
Project endSeptember 29, 2029
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$373,999
NIH project number5U01CE003785-02
Project IDNIH-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

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.