Students with Special Needs

This program is designed to reduce bullying, exploitation and abuse against students with special needs. People with disabilities or other special needs are at a higher risk for abuse. We have been successful in teaching personal safety and self-protection skills to thousands of children, teens and adults with life challenges such as: developmental and intellectual disabilities; difficulty with vision, hearing or mobility; or personal histories of domestic violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation and homelessness (see Customized Private Classes ).

Our workshops are tailored to work with the strengths of every student. We make adaptations for how different people’s bodies and minds work, focusing on what they can do, rather than what they cannot.

“Kidpower worked closely with us to adapt their amazing, hands-on skills class to the needs and particular safety issues of our kids who are deaf or hard of hearing.  Reaching out to our kids and keeping the connection strong between parent and child is critical, and Kidpower reminds us of that every day. ”
~ Sara Kennedy, Executive Director, Colorado Hands and Voices

We teach the full spectrum of “People Safety” skills including:

• Being and acting aware
• Setting boundaries
• Staying safe from bullying or verbal attack
• Getting help
• Staying safe while riding public transit
• Making safe choices with support tools such as canes, service dogs, and wheelchairs
• Learning effective self-protection skills focusing on abilities

HOW DO WE TEACH THESE SKILLS?

We work with partner organizations such as schools, agencies and workplace sites to provide workshops onsite in places familiar to the student and with staff and parents who can reinforce the core concepts.  Programs are usually funded through grant sources provided to the school/agency, to Kidpower or in collaboration so that funding isn’t an extra burden for families of special needs students.

Students of varied cognitive and physical abilities have found our services to be relevant, interesting, and well-suited for their own ways of moving, thinking, perceiving, and communicating.

Our workshops offer a safe and secure environment for strengths-based, “learning by doing” through role-play and positive examples. We have fun while developing powerful and practical skills. We also provide Parent Training and Training of Professionals so that school and agency staff can integrate our program into their curriculum and activities.

What about services for people facing other life challenges?

See Customized Private Classes

Online Enrollment

Call (719) 520-1311 for more information or to organize a workshop.