Improving Community Safety Together, Part 1: Considerations for Interactions between First Responders and People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities presented by Shannon Benaitis, PHR from Albatross Training Solutions on Friday, March 26, 2021 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.
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Overview of IDD for Community/First Responders
- Introduction: Social Service & IDD Support agencies
- Why this training? Why now?
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Characteristics, Strengths, Challenges, Support Needs
- Mental Health Needs of Folks with IDD: Prevalence of Dual Diagnosis, Unique Challenges and Support Implications
- Suggestions for Supportive Approach and Productive Interaction: Communication, Body/Face, Surroundings, Audio/Visual
- Things to Keep in Mind: Previous Interactions, Traumatic Experiences, Treatment History/Hospitalizations, Considerations for Disability Intersection with: Race, Culture, Ethnicity, Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation, Housing Insecurity, Immigration Status
- Q&A from audience | Q&A for the audience: What one thing will you do differently regarding your approach/interaction beginning tomorrow?
Bio: Shannon Benaitis has been working in social services for 20 years. She has experience working with adults and children with both intellectual/developmental disabilities and mental illness and has worked in jobs ranging from direct support staff to department director.
Currently, Shannon is a consultant and independent contractor for her company, Albatross Training Solutions. She brings her experience in IDD, mental health, ICF/long-term care, CILA, and home-based services to the classroom and the conference room, where she strives to make training, meetings, and projects dynamic, enjoyable, and relevant. Albatross specializes in content development, script-writing, and instructional design for both in-person and e-learning formats.
Shannon’s areas of expertise include staff training, human resources, mental health and dual diagnosis, aging issues, and rules and regulations. Interests include anti-racism work and disability education for First Responders. She excels at public speaking opportunities, interactive workshops, and train the trainer projects. Shannon has a master’s degree in Social & Criminal Justice from Lewis University and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology in English from Cornell College. She is Professional in Human Resources-certified, a happily married stepmom to three awesome humans, a service dog mom to Gordon, and a lupus patient.
