From School to Adulthood: How Individuals with Disabilities Build Lifelong Safety Skills
Tustin, United States - September 18, 2026 / Get Safe USA /
LOS ANGELES, Calif., September 18, 2026 – Get Safe USA has expanded its trauma-informed safety education programs to serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across California, reinforcing self-advocacy skills that help participants recognize unsafe situations, set boundaries, and build independence in everyday life.
The organization provides trauma-informed safety education that helps individuals with IDD learn practical skills for recognizing unsafe situations, communicating concerns, setting boundaries, and making informed decisions. The programs are designed to meet individuals at different stages of life, from early school experiences to adult independence.
Rather than using a standard approach, the team develops programs based on each group’s needs, abilities, and learning styles. The organization works with families, schools, service providers, and community programs in Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Anaheim to provide safety education that can be applied in real-life situations.
Building Self-Advocacy Skills Through Safety Education
Self-advocacy skills often begin developing during childhood. For many students with disabilities, school is the first environment where they learn how to identify concerns, ask for help, and communicate their needs.
Supporting Students Through School Safety Programs
Their school safety programs help students develop early safety awareness through age-appropriate education focused on communication, boundaries, and decision-making.
These programs help students:
Recognize bullying, peer pressure, and unsafe situations.
Understand personal boundaries and how to communicate them.
Identify trusted adults they can approach for support.
Practice speaking up when something does not feel right.
The organization’s bullying prevention programs for schools in Los Angeles are designed to reinforce these skills by helping students understand risks, build confidence, and develop stronger self-advocacy skills in everyday situations.
Expanding Safety Skills Into Adulthood
As individuals with IDD transition into adulthood, their safety needs continue to evolve. Greater independence can bring new experiences involving transportation, employment, relationships, online communication, and community interactions.
Their programs focus on helping adults strengthen skills that support independent living, including:
Recognizing warning signs in conversations and situations.
Setting healthy boundaries with others.
Communicating needs clearly.
Knowing when and how to ask for help.
The organization’s personal safety classes in California provide opportunities for participants to practice these skills through discussions, examples, and role-play activities based on everyday experiences.
A Trauma-Informed Approach to Violence Prevention Training
Traditional safety training does not always address the unique experiences of individuals with IDD. Their programs, including violence prevention training, use a trauma-informed approach that creates a supportive learning environment while helping participants build practical safety skills, process past experiences, and develop confidence in recognizing and responding to risks.
The training focuses on:
Respectful communication without blame or judgment.
Allowing participants time to process and practice new skills.
Creating a safe environment for discussing sensitive topics.
Helping individuals recognize and respond to potential risks.
"When I started Get Safe, I witnessed how individuals recovering from violence needed more than techniques; they needed empowerment and respect. That same principle drives our work with people with IDD today. We're giving them tools to recognize risks and advocate for themselves in environments where they're often overlooked," says Stuart Haskin, Founder and Owner of Get Safe.
Customized Programs Designed for Different Communities
Get Safe provides customized programs across California for individuals and organizations in a variety of settings, adapting each program to support different ages, abilities, learning styles, and individual needs, including:
Schools and educational settings.
Group homes and residential programs.
Adult day programs.
Independent living services.
Community organizations and service providers.
By adapting program content and delivery methods, Get Safe helps ensure participants receive training that is meaningful and relevant to their daily lives.
About Get Safe
Get Safe is a Tustin-based safety training organization with over 40 years of experience serving diverse populations, including law enforcement, corporate clients, educators, and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Founded by Stuart Haskin in response to survivors' needs for trauma-informed support, Get Safe has trained more than 500,000 individuals across California. The organization specializes in customized, compliance-driven programs addressing communication, de-escalation, bullying prevention, and self-advocacy skills. Get Safe operates with trauma-informed principles and tailors training to meet participants at different life stages and learning needs.
Media Contact
Stuart Haskin
Owner, Get Safe
Phone: (714) 834-0050
Email: info@getsafeusa.com
Contact Information:
Get Safe USA
18122 NORWOOD PARK PL
Tustin, CA 92780
United States
Stuart Haskin
https://getsafeusa.com/
Original Source: https://getsafeusa.com/post/from-school-to-adulthood-how-individuals-with-disabilities-build-lifelong-safety-skills
