Identifying Risk and Mitigation Strategies

General Risk and Mitigation Strategies

Learning how to identify potential risks is the first step in helping divert individuals away from engagement with the justice system as well as continue supporting individuals who may already be engaged with the justice system.

This LMS course developed by ODP, will explore the different factors of risk and strategies.

At the end of each course, you will receive a Certificate of Completion.

Assuring the health, safety, and well-being of the individuals we support is an integral part of the work that we do. It is particularly critical when there are risk factors present that may increase the likelihood that an individual may become involved in the justice system, or if there is current involvement with the justice system.

This LMS course developed by ODP, will explore how to identify and mitigate risks.

At the end of each course, you will receive a Certificate of Completion.

This training will introduce the learner to health and safety risk factors of the individuals we support. It includes ways to recognize and assess risk factors in real situations, ways to appropriately respond to risk factors and reduce or eliminate potential adverse events, and strategies to address those risk factors.

Risk identification and mitigation is a priority when supporting individuals within our programs. As a result, ODP has developed a resource collection related to eight specific domains (e.g. law enforcement, stressful life events, substance use, mental health…).

Through research and experience we have learned that implementing the right tools can help us be better supporters for people on the autism spectrum. But what are those tools? This seminar will provide a deeper look into a variety of priority areas that impact everyday life in efforts to expand our understanding of key challenges that people are facing to help provide effective and meaningful supports.

Diane Bannerman Juracek, PhD, BCBA asserts that we need to support people with disabilities to exercise their right to choose within “normal risk.” The concept of “normal risk” will be explored and translated for AAW providers to provide choice opportunities and encourage/accept risk taking.

At the end of each course, you will receive a Certificate of Completion.

This paper discusses safeguards for adults with developmental disabilities, as well as children and youth with special needs and their families. There are differences among people at different stages in life. However, learning about safeguards can help build better lives with people of all ages. It can also be extended to other groups of people who live with vulnerability in community.

These resources, part of the Be Safe Resource collection, provides general information about how to prevent sexual abuse and assault for caregivers. These resources are specifically designed for caregivers and focus on: talking to children about puberty, sex and sexuality, teaching community safety skills, teaching sexual health and safety, institutional abuse, and grooming

Crisis prevention training designed to challenge the thought behind the traditional policy of automatic referral to Crisis Intervention and/or hospitalization for behaviors related to potential harm to self or othersThis training aims to ensure that all participants have at least one authentic relationship with a staff person, and that staff is well trained, comfortable with the potential topics, and that the provider supports and empowers the staff person to make meaningful decisions.  Also explored are the ways in which hospitalization can serve as a reinforcer to maladaptive coping skills as well as challenging behaviors.  Special attention is paid to ensuring that the emphasis is on crisis prevention, and ensuring that providers do not inadvertently create crisis through policy.

Social Skills Risk and Mitigation Strategies

The Multi-Media Social Skills Projects for Adolescents and Adults teaches skills that are relevant for teens and adults such as how to effectively use humor and sarcasm as well as job-related skills like anxiety management. When choosing social skills to target, it’s important to focus on skills that are relevant and meaningful to the individual. It’s also important to consider life circumstances, goals, and skills needed to reach these goals.

We live, work, and play in a social world where things don’t always go as planned. Having requisite social and coping skills are important to navigate our daily lives. This training discusses the importance of focusing support on building social and coping skills specifically reviewing best practices in teaching social and coping skills.

At the end of each course, you will receive a Certificate of Completion.

Sex and Sexuality Risk and Mitigation Strategies

Few parents relish the idea of tackling sexual education with their children. But it is critically important that parents of children with autism do so; many children with ASD will not have much opportunity to learn from friends, television, and movies, and there are areas of intimacy, privacy, and protection that may be too challenging for them to navigate on their own. Understanding how their bodies work, what is appropriate behavior, and the social issues that arise as they mature are areas that often need to be directly taught to people with ASD. Learn about available resources and age appropriate lessons for children with ASD.

This article discusses suggestions for when to have sexuality discussions with your autistic child as well as how to do this in a way that they can openly discuss sexuality and related issues with you.

This article discusses the importance of sex education for young children, which topics to discuss, and how to have the conversations with them.

Online Safety Risk and Mitigation Strategies

This safety manual provides tips and strategies for individuals, supporters and families to use in an effort to decrease risks associated with internet use.

This resource collection provides resources to help prepare individuals for how to stay safe online, and what to do if you have a negative experience.

These resources walk through the risks and benefits of online communication, directions for implementing privacy settings in different platforms, and guidance for safely navigating social platforms. 

Community Safety Risk and Mitigation Strategies

Getting pulled over by a police officer can be a scary thing. Your first reaction may be to panic. Following a few steps and understanding some basic rules can help make the situation less stressful. This resource provides strategies people could use if they are pulled over by a police officer.

These tips from the Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights (PACER) Center provide a brief summary of information for parents of children or teens with disabilities at risk of arrest by police at school or in the community.

The yellow dot program assists citizens in the “golden hour” of emergency care following a traffic crash when they may not be able to communicate their needs themselves. Placing a Yellow Dot decal in your vehicle’s rear window alerts first responders to check your glove compartment for vital information to ensure you receive the medical attention you need. This page will explain more about the program and how individuals can apply to receive their yellow dot.  

Mental Health Risk and Mitigation Strategies

John McGonigle from UPMC will review true mental health issues in participants with ASD and treatments to address these issues.

We know there is a distinct intersection between autism and anxiety. Research has shown that anxiety is not just a facet of the core symptoms of autism but can also co-occur as a separate diagnosis. This training will talk about the presentation of anxiety for people with autism and discuss treatment approaches and strategies to address the anxiety.

This resource provides basic tips and information on how to support an individual with autism who may be experiencing a difficult situation or crisis. It is important to note that some individuals with autism engage in stereotypic or repetitive behaviors or self-injury, that can make the person “look” like they are in crisis when they are not. As in any situation, take cues from family members, friends or others who know the individual well to determine what, if any, action needs to be taken.

The Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP®) through a Peer Group Model offers the opportunity for participants to discover a self-determined well life and take action toward the freedom we want to achieve.

This article focuses on fidelity to the peer group model, which promotes self-determination; so the individual can take action and make intentional decisions about their wellness.