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Supporting Break-Ups, Rejection, and Heartbreak September 29, 2026, 3:00 – 4:30pm EDT

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Supporting Break-Ups, Rejection, and Heartbreak September 29, 2026, 3:00 – 4:30pm EDT

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https://www.eventbrite.com/e/supporting-break-ups-rejection-and-heartbreak-tickets-1987918973162?aff=oddtdtcreator

Participants will learn how to:

Understand break-ups and rejection as legitimate losses that deserve support—not avoidance or punishment.

Recognize how grief and heartbreak may be expressed differently by people with I/DD.

Respond to intense emotions without minimizing, rushing “closure,” or discouraging future relationships.

Set appropriate boundaries while still honoring feelings, autonomy, and dignity.

Support healing, resilience, and readiness for future relationships.

This is a 90-minute online workshop ideal for sexuality educators, direct support professionals, educators, clinicians, case managers, residential staff, and anyone supporting people with I/DD in navigating relationships.

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Online Workshop Series - Elevatus Training

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We offer a series of live, online workshops, typically, 90 minutes long to explore a wide range of topics related to sexuality and developmental disabilities. Our topics are determined by you, and what you tell us that you are interested in, or want to learn more about. We use a video conference platform (Ring Central, powered by Zoom) to deliver the workshops. There will be an opportunity for questions and live engagement with the facilitator/s. Read more about: Online Workshop Series

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Fitness for all, this is a great app with adaptive fitness and more importantly “healthy social connections”.

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Fitness for all, this is a great app with adaptive fitness and more importantly “healthy social connections”.

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Removing Obstacles

We believe fitness is for everyone. With modified exercise workouts tailored for specific disabilities, we make health and wellness inclusive and comprehensive. Join our TruFit team, download our app, meet the coaches, connect with other athletes and support your well-being.

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www.connectingusma.com

Topics and strategies to each person and where they are on their friendship and/or dating journey. We delve into these areas and more:

• identifying different levels of friendship and how to become closer with people

• hidden rules of electronic communication

• the value of noticing, learning and remembering more about a friend/potential romantic partner

• how small talk can launch people into deeper topics of conversation

• steps of effectively trading information with others, without over-talking, getting too personal too fast, interviewing, bragging, or being argumentative

• appropriate use of humor

• handling arguments

• nuances of dating etiquette”

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The App Was Created for the IDD Community to Bring People Closer Together and Provide an Inclusive Place to Interact and Be Yourself!-https://hello-itsme.com

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The App Was Created for the IDD Community to Bring People Closer Together and Provide an Inclusive Place to Interact and Be Yourself!-https://hello-itsme.com

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Healthy Boundaries Lesson - Elevatus Training

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Your body is your own and you get to decide what is okay for you and not okay for you. These personal rules are called personal boundaries. Each person has different personal boundaries. For example, some people don’t like to [...]

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As sexuality educator, I teach people how to say no, but it's also my job to teach people how to say yes. To be able to say yes to the things you really want and no to the things you don't.

Focusing on teaching people to say no almost implies that it's more important to say no than to say yes. I want to be sure everyone knows what they want to say yes to and no to and have the skills to carry out their decisions.

When teaching people with I/DD, or anyone, how to say yes or no, to give consent or not, we first have to find out if the person knows and believes it is their life to make decisions about. If the person doesn't believe this all the skills and definitions will not make a difference in their ability to consent, to say yes or no.

I offer this lesson to help you navigate the conversation with the people you work with.
Step One
Ask the person: "Do you believe that your life, mind, and body are yours? Yours to make decisions about?"

If they answer, "Yes," validate the response, and then you can ask, are there times when you don't feel like it's your life, mind, or body? If they tell you they sometimes don't feel their life is theirs, ask how they can change that, and explore options together. If they feel in charge and completely believe the statement, you can move to Step Two.

If they say, no, I don't believe my life is my own then you need to ask, "why don't you believe that?" There are many possibilities such as my parents won't let me make my own decisions or I feel bad when I hurt others so I don't tell people what I really want or don't want in my life.

You can then ask, "what would it take for you to be in charge of your life? How could you make that happen?" Some responses to explore could be: I can talk with my parents about making my own decisions or I can remind myself that I need to speak up for myself in a kind way and if people get hurt, it is okay because I have to think of my needs first. You can also make sure the person has lots of opportunities to make decisions about their life and keep reminding them that it is their life and they get to decide what is right for them.
Step Two
Since you truly believe that your life, mind, and body are yours and you get to decide what is right for you, let's explore what you want to say yes and no to.

"What do you want in a sexual/romantic relationship?" "How do you want to be treated?"

To be treated kindly.

To be respected and listened to.

To always feel safe to say no and my no will be accepted.

To have fun and laugh a lot.

To be able to communicate about all topics.

Jordan wants:

To share interests like sports or listening to music

To be able to be myself around this person

Then you can ask: "How about you? What do you want to say yes or no to?" You can then take the conversation deeper.

"What sexual acts are you ok with?"

Ok with kissing, hugging, and touching each other's bodies.

Ok with vaginal or oral sex after we have been together for 3 months.

Ok with kissing after the third date.

Ok with sex after we are married.

Ok with having sex before marriage as long as I am treated with respect.

Then you can ask: "How about you? What do you want to say yes or no to?"
Step Three
Now that you believe it is your life, you know what you want and don't want, it is time to practice.

Let's take Lily as an example. Lily is in a relationship that she feels respected, is listened to, treated kindly, and she feels safe. She has been with her partner for 2 months. Her partner asks her to have sex.

What can Lily say? According to what she wants, she doesn't want to have sex until she is with a partner 3 months. So, she will say no based on what she wants in her life. She says, "no." Her partner says, "How come, I thought you cared about me?" She can say, "I do care about you and I care about myself too and I am not ready. I would like to wait a bit longer in our relationship." Her partner says, "I understand." Now, Lily has said what she wants and she also feels like her partner is kind, respectful, and listened to her AND she felt safe saying what she wanted for her life. She can say, "thanks for listening to me and respecting my decision."

But let's say that Lily's partner says, "you are selfish and only think about yourself. I am ready and you need to do it with me or I will break up with you." Now, Lily will see her relationship differently. She will see that her partner isn't being respectful, is treating her unkindly, and is not listening to her. And, she isn't feeling safe to say what she wants in her relationship. This would be a really good time to get out of there. This is a sign that this isn't what she wants in a relationship. She can say to herself, this is my life, mind, and body and I get to make decisions for myself and I am choosing to leave this situation. She can say, "no, I will not and I am leaving right now."

The bottom line is, in order to consent, you have to know and believe that you are in charge of your life, and know what you want and what you don't want. If you don't believe that, you really aren't able to consent. Just knowing what consent means really isn't enough. You have to KNOW you are in charge and take control of your life.

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A Prelude to Consent - Elevatus Training

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As sexuality educator, I teach people how to say no, but it's also my job to teach people how to say yes. To be able to say yes to the things you really want and no to the things you [...]

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Welcome to a special episode of Everything You Know, presented by Easterseals. Today, we've got a truly enlightening conversation lined up with our guests, Subodh Garg and his sister, Aarti Garg. Subodh, a charismatic individual diagnosed with autism at the age of 3, shares his journey towards independence, his exceptional memory, and his experiences with dating and social interactions. Aarti, who plays a crucial role in managing Subodh's social engagements and safety online, provides insight into their sibling dynamics and the support systems that help Subodh navigate his challenges and aspirations.

In this episode, we delve into the importance of the diverse representation of autism in media, the critical role of technology in improving communication skills, and the universal struggles with dating and social skills. Subodh also discusses his participation in the show Love on the Spectrum, his employment goals in accounting, and his passion for travel. Join hosts Erin Hawley and Lily Newton as they explore these topics and more, offering a broader perspective on neurodiversity and the common human desires for love and connection.

Stay tuned as we challenge the misconceptions about autism and celebrate the diverse capabilities and aspirations of individuals on the spectrum.

0:00 - Introduction to today's episode with hosts Erin Hawley and Lily Newton, featuring guests Subodh and Aarti Garg.

2:45 - Subodh Garg discusses his journey towards independence and his aspirations in accounting.

5:20 - Exploring the sibling dynamics between Subodh and Aarti Garg, including the misconceptions about their relationship.

7:40 - Aarti Garg talks about her role as a manager rather than a caretaker in Subodh's life.

10:15 - Challenges of making and maintaining friendships as adults, emphasized by Subodh's experiences.

13:30 - Subodh's take on his participation in Love on the Spectrum and developing his dating skills.

18:29 - The impact of "Love on the Spectrum" on Subodh's life, as discussed by Aarti.

21:10 - Conversation about the universal struggle with dating and social skills.

24:05 - Subodh and community building: From online dating to maintaining connections with the show's cast.

27:50 - The transportation hurdles and Subodh's use of Access, a paratransit service.

30:16 - Subodh's employment ventures at Teledelis and Insight, and his educational goals.

33:45 - Lily Newton and Aarti Garg critique the representation of disability in mainstream media and specific TV shows.

37:12 - The role of digital content in Subodh's life, including his Instagram engagement and travel posts.

40:40 - Detailing the disability readathon initiative and its significance, shared by Erin Hawley.

43:28 - Reflections on maintaining friendships amidst life changes and busy schedules.

45:35 - Subodh's exceptional memory skills and affinity for recalling specific dates and personal milestones.

49:20 - Deep dive into Subodh's past therapies, ongoing supportive services, and aspirations for travel.

52:15 - Discussion on the broader spectrum of autism and the personal ambitions of individuals with autism.

55:00 - Closing thoughts, upcoming initiatives, and a thank you to Subodh and Aarti Garg for their participation.

57:10 - Call to action for disability advocacy and an invitation to listen in to future episodes presented by Easterseals.

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Everything You Know About Disability Is Wrong

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Navigating Independence and Relationships: Subodh and Aarti's Journey on EYK

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Navigating Independence and Relationships: Subodh and Aarti's Journey on EYK | Season 3, Episode 2Welcome to a special episode of Everything You Know, presented by Easterseals. Today, we've got a truly enlightening conversation lined up with our guests, Subodh Garg and his sister, Aarti Garg.

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Everything You Know About Disability is Wrong is a podcast for the disability community by the disability community, hosted by two disabled women. But if you're not disabled, listen in to learn about real issues, celebrations, and conversations disabled people are having in their communities.

Podcast Seasons

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In Each Episode - Show Notes

Season 3

About the Podcast

Everything You Know about Disability is Wrong with hosts Erin and Lily provides an authentic exploration about navigating life as a disabled adult. As a disability podcast for and by the disability community, conversations feature disabled leaders, advocates, and content creators while challenging assumptions and stigmas -- but don't get it twisted. This podcast is not for your inspiration! Erin and Lily bring thoughtful honesty and witty humor to complex topics that are often misunderstood. Tune in to Everything You Know about Disability is Wrong even if you don't have a disability - you will definitely learn a thing or two!

Lily

Lily is an artist, filmmaker, neurodiversity advocate, and is passionate about diversity representation in the arts. She loves making educational content and wants to increase accessibility in virtual spaces.

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Everything You Know About Disability Is Wrong Podcast

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Everything You Know About Disability Is Wrong is an Easterseals podcast for the disability community by the disability community, hosted by two disabled women.

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FREE Healthy Relationship Boundries Webinar

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FREE Healthy Relationship Boundries Webinar

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This FREE 60 minute webinar will explore tips and tools for addressing sexuality one-on-one with the individuals you work with . We will explore why this topic can be difficult to approach and useful tools that will help you become more comfortable and confident and communicate about this sensitive topic.

Learning Objectives

Discuss the benefits of providing sexuality education

Examine activities to teach healthy boundaries

Different types of relationships

Public v. Private

Moving from Friend to Partner

Body language

Communication

Speaking Up

Workshop Dates

Jun 12, 2024

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July 9, 2024

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Aug 6, 2024

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Sept 24, 2024

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Oct 16, 2024

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Nov 20, 2024

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Dec 10, 2024

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