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ASERT does not offer crisis services through our Resource Center. If you or someone you love is experiencing mental health distress or thoughts of suicide please call or text 988 for support.

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Be Safe Resource Collection

The words "Be Safe" outlined by an oval with the words "Ask. Listen. Respect."Individuals with disabilities have a long history of mistreatment, abuse and devaluation. Recent reports indicate individuals with developmental disabilities experience sexual abuse at a rate seven times higher than their non-disabled peers. However, this has been a topic that has received little attention over the years, leading to a significant lack of information and resources for both individuals with disabilities and communities who support them. Fortunately, many of the factors that contribute to the high rates of abuse and exploitation of individuals with disabilities can be prevented when the appropriate knowledge and resources are available.

In response to these recent statistics, ASERT has partnered with researchers at the National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center at the Medical University of South Carolina. The Be Safe Resource Collection will be comprised of infographics, social stories, eLearning courses and other resource materials focused on the prevention of sexual abuse as well as intervention strategies to support individuals who experience abuse.

Prevention Resources

These resources are designed to provide information and tips on how to prevent sexual abuse and assault in individuals with autism. There are general resources that are appropriate for all ages and developmental levels, as well as specific resources for caregivers, professionals and individuals with autism.

Be Safe: General Prevention Resources

These resources, part of the Be Safe resource collection focused on preventing sexual abuse and assault and supporting individuals who may have experienced sexual abuse or assault, contains general information about how to prevent sexual abuse or assault. Topics include identifying and reporting abuse in children, signs of abuse, risk and protective factors, educating about abuse, why abuse isn't always reported and pathways to victimization.

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Be Safe: Prevention Resources for Individuals with Autism

These resources, part of the Be Safe Resource collection, provides general information about how to prevent sexual abuse and assault for individuals with autism. These resources are specifically designed for individuals with autism and focus on: what is sexual abuse, how to stay safe, body awareness and body safety, understanding touch and staying safe,

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Be Safe: Prevention Resources for Caregivers

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.

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Be Safe: Prevention Resources for Professionals

These resources, part of the Be Safe Resource collection, provides general information about how to prevent sexual abuse and assault for professionals. These resources are specifically designed for professionals and focus on: teaching personal safety, teaching self-determination and relationship building skills, and screening for abuse.

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Intervention Resources

These resources are designed to provide information and tips on how to provide support to individuals with autism who may have experienced sexual abuse or assault. There are general resources that are appropriate for all ages and developmental levels, as well as specific resources for caregivers, professionals and individuals with autism.

Be Safe: General Intervention Resources

These resources are designed to provide information and tips on how to provide support to individuals with autism who may have experienced sexual abuse or assault. There are general resources that are appropriate for all ages and developmental levels, as well as specific resources for caregivers, professionals and individuals with autism.

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Be Safe: Intervention Resources for Individuals with Autism

These resources are designed to provide information and tips on how to provide support to individuals with autism who may have experienced sexual abuse or assault. There are general resources that are appropriate for all ages and developmental levels, as well as specific resources for caregivers, professionals and individuals with autism.

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Be Safe: Intervention Resources for Caregivers

These resources are designed to provide information and tips on how to provide support to individuals with autism who may have experienced sexual abuse or assault. There are general resources that are appropriate for all ages and developmental levels, as well as specific resources for caregivers, professionals and individuals with autism.

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Be Safe: Intervention Resources for Professionals

These resources are designed to provide information and tips on how to provide support to individuals with autism who may have experienced sexual abuse or assault. There are general resources that are appropriate for all ages and developmental levels, as well as specific resources for caregivers, professionals and individuals with autism.

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Social Stories and Visual Resources

These resources are a combination of social stories and visual resources that can be used to teach various concepts related to the prevention and intervention of abuse and sexual abuse for individuals with autism and developmental disabilities. These resources can be used alone, or in conjunction with the one page resources listed above.

General Community Safety

Be Safe: Public and Private Places Social Story

This resource, part of the Be Safe resource collection, is a social story explaining the difference between public and private places, as well as behaviors that are okay in each setting.

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Be Safe: Home Safety Social Story

This resource, part of the Be Safe resource collection, is a social story explaining ways to stay safe when at home.

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Be Safe: Community Safety Social Story

This resource, part of the Be Safe resource collection, is a social story for individuals with autism to help explain and teach ways for them to stay safe when they are out in the community.

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Be Safe: Right to Be Safe Social Story

This resource, part of the Be Safe resource collection focused on the prevention of sexual abuse and assault, provides information about an individual's right to be safe.

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Be Safe: Using a Urinal Social Story

This resource, part of the Be Safe resource collection, is a social story that explains some of the unspoken social rules around using a urinal in a men's bathroom.

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Relationship and Sex Education Materials

Be Safe: Relationships Social Story, Parts 1-6

This resource, part of the Be Safe resource collection focused on the prevention of sexual abuse and assault, provides information on different types of relationships such as friendships, family relationships, romantic relationships, strangers and acquaintances.

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Be Safe: Consensual Touch Social Story

This resource, part of the Be Safe resource collection focused on the prevention of sexual abuse and assault, provides information on consensual touch in a visual format.

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Be Safe: Explaining Sex and Sexual Behaviors Social Story

This resource, part of the Be Safe resource collection focused on the prevention of sexual abuse and assault, explains sex and different sexual behaviors for individuals in a visual format.

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Be Safe: Healthy vs Unhealthy Relationships Social Story

This resource, part of the Be Safe resource collection, is a social story that explains some of the differences in a healthy relationship compared to an unhealthy relationship.

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Be Safe: Rules for My Body Social Story

This resource, part of the Be Safe resource collection focused on the prevention of sexual abuse and assault, provides information on rules for individuals bodies to help keep them safe.

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Be Safe: Who Should Help Me in the Bathroom Social Story

This resource, part of the Be Safe resource collection, is a social story that explains who should help an individual if they need assistance in the bathroom, and how they should provide that help.

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Be Safe: What are Private Parts

This resource, part of the Be Safe resource collection focused on the prevention of sexual abuse and assault, is a visual diagram that shows what are considered private parts for males and females.

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Be Safe: Understanding Private Parts Social Story

This resource, part of the Be Safe resource collection, is a social story explaining private parts and when it's okay for other people to see or touch private parts.

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Teaching About Abuse

Be Safe: What is Sexual Abuse (Children) Social Story

This resource, part of the Be Safe resource collection, is a social story for children to help explain what sexual abuse means.

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Be Safe: What is Sexual Abuse (Adults) Social Story

This resource, part of the Be Safe resource collection, is a social story for adults with autism.

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Be Safe: Abusive Behaviors Social Story

These resources, part of the Be Safe resource collection, are social stories that provide information for individuals with autism on what are abusive behaviors, including physical abuse.

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Be Safe: What is Trauma Social Story

This resource, part of the Be Safe resource collection focused on the prevention of sexual abuse and assault, provides information in a visual format on what is trauma.

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Be Safe: What is Neglect Social Story

This resource, part of the Be Safe resource collection focused on the prevention of sexual abuse and assault, provides information about neglect in a visual format.

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Be Safe: Why Do People Abuse Others Social Story

This resource, part of the Be Safe collection, is a social story that explains some of the reasons why people abuse other people.

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Talking About Abuse

Be Safe: Telling About Sexual Abuse Social Story for Adults, Part 1-3

This resource, part of the Be Safe collection, is a series of social stories focused on how individuals with autism can talk about and tell others if they have been sexually abused or assaulted.

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Be Safe: Telling About Sexual Abuse Social Story for Children, Parts 1-3

These resources, part of the Be Safe resource collection, are a series of social stories for children to help them know when and how to tell a parent or trusted adult if they have been sexually abused.

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Be Safe: Saying No Social Story

This resource, part of the Be Safe resource collection, is a social story showing individuals with autism how to say "no" if someone is touching them. This resource can be used to educate individuals on how to keep themselves safe, as well as help to prevent an individual who has already experienced sexual abuse or assault from being victimized again.

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Be Safe: When I’m Uncomfortable Social Story, Parts 1-2

These resources, part of the Be Safe resource collection focused on the prevention of sexual abuse and assault, is a series of social stories that provides information for individuals with autism on recognizing when they are in a situation that makes them feel uncomfortable, and what they can do in that situation to make themselves safe.

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Be Safe: Secrets – When Should You Tell Social Story

This resource, part of the Be Safe resource collection focused on the prevention of sexual abuse and assault, provides information about different types of secrets and when keeping them can be dangerous.

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Dealing with Sexual Abuse

Be Safe: Coping with Abuse Social Story

This resource, part of the Be Safe resource collection, provides tips and suggestions for individuals with autism on how they can cope with the feelings they may experience if they have been abused.

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Be Safe: Flashbacks and Intrusive Thoughts Social Story

This resource, part of the Be Safe collection, is a social story for individuals with autism that explains flashbacks and intrusive thoughts that may happen after experiencing sexual abuse and assault, as well as ways to cope with those thoughts.

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Be Safe: Recognizing Negative Emotions Social Story

This resource, part of the Be Safe collection, is a social story that helps explain different negative emotions people may feel, and how you can recognize those emotions.

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Be Safe: Treatment for Sexual Abuse and Assault Social Story, Parts 1-4

These resources, part of the Be Safe resource collection, are a series of social stories that explain the different types of treatment that are available for individuals with autism who have experienced sexual abuse or assault. Treatment options include Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).

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