The University of Arizona Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities is asking for your help with a research project about sexual violence against persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) or autism.

The project is called Untold Stories and it has two parts. Part one involves interviews. Part two is a community survey (coming soon).

Sonoran Center Affiliated Faculty Dr. Lynne Tomasa and her team are starting to schedule interviews with the following people:

1.  Individuals with I/DD or autism who experienced unwanted sexual contact or behaviors and
2.  Family caregivers or persons who play an important role in the life of someone who experiences unwanted sexual behaviors

If you belong to either group or know of someone who is, we encourage you to participate or share our information. Together we can help prevent future sexual violence against people with I/DD or autism.

Participants must live in Arizona and be 18 years old and older to participate in the interviews. Those who meet the project requirements will be paid for their time with a gift card.

All contact and interviews will be kept confidential/private. 

For more details about what the project team has done to prepare for this sensitive discussion, please contact Dr. Lynne Tomasa at ltomasa@arizona.edu

This project has been reviewed and approved by the University of Arizona Institutional Review Board (IRB).

The project is funded by the Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (ADDPC) to conduct research into the ongoing crisis of sexual abuse and violence against individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism (I/DD/A).