National Disability Advocate Authors Book on The Facts of Life

Community Options, Inc. a national nonprofit organization that has been developing homes and employment for people with disabilities since 1989 recently held its annual iMatter Conference at the W Hotel in Dallas. The organization had the pleasure of having Leslie Walker-Hirsch as a presenter.

Leslie Walker-Hirsch is an educational consultant who specializes in social and sexual development for individuals with intellectual disabilities. She is an advocate, lecturer and the co-creator of the CIRCLES curriculum series, a multi-media teaching series for improving social competence and judgment that is designed especially to address the learning styles of youth and adults with cognitive disabilities. The CIRCLES series is in its fifth iteration.

Her book, The Facts of Life…and More, released in 2007, is currently available from Paul H. Brookes, Baltimore, MD or from your retail bookseller. This book was voted “Winner Best Special Needs Titles” by Exceptional Parent Magazine in 2007.

Her other publications include: Down Syndrome: Visions for the 21st Century,
Chapter 22 “Building Relationships/Social and Sexual Development”, A Guide to
Consent, Chapter 4 “Consent to Sexual Activity”, as well as many articles in journals
and newsletters.

She is the founder, former and current chairperson of the American Association on
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD), formerly American Association
on Mental Retardation (AAMR), Special Interest Group on Social and Sexual Concerns, former President of the General Division and Fellow in the AAIDD formerly AAMR), member of the National Clinical Advisory Board of the National Down Syndrome Society, serves on the Proctor and Gamble panel of experts for the 8th
grade and is a member of the Board of Directors of Alta Mira Specialized Family
Services. She has trained professionals in her unique strategies across the US and
internationally. She teaches in the Graduate College of Education at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM.

Leslie Walker-Hirsch has a Master’s Degree in Special Education and Administration.
She consults to schools, agencies and states to assist individuals with intellectual
disabilities, their families and the professionals who support them on issues related to developing social competence and sexual safety.

For more information, please visit www.lesliewalker-hirsch.com.