Nationally Recognized Program

The QOL Curriculum

A healthy-relationships and safety program for individuals with disabilities, from prevention to diversion.

Building Healthy Selves, Forming Healthy Relationships. Co-created by Dr. Michelle Garcia and Brandon Delgado, LPA, and recognized by The National Arc. Dr. Josephine Avila leads the national virtual groups, and Dr. Andy Martin leads the prevention group.

Dr. Josephine Avila leading a QOL Curriculum virtual group
Recognition

Recognized nationally, in practice

Recognized by The National Arc

Recognized nationally by The Arc, the country’s largest organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

2025 Fay Honey Knopp Award

Dr. Garcia and Brandon Delgado, LPA, received the Safer Society Foundation’s Learning Initiative Award for addressing sexual and social violence.

Studied by UVA & Drexel

Researchers are studying recidivism using QOL and only one other program in the country.

Written into Virginia law

Used word for word to write a Virginia bill, now law, that adds sex education to IEPs.

Approved as programming

Probation officers, judges, and lawyers across the country have approved people to take QOL as their sex-offender programming.

Texas Bar Foundation grant

A grant from the Texas Bar Foundation funds scholarships into the program.

Adult & adolescent groups

Three adult groups and an adolescent group, with participants from multiple states.

Referred nationally

Mark Mahoney tells audiences about QOL in his national talks, and Dthree refers people regularly.

Piloted in 2015

Originally sponsored by The Arc of Blair County (PA) and a county judge, and piloted in the Altoona School District.

Why QOL matters

People with disabilities are about 2.5 times more likely to be victimized, and too often they end up in a system that wasn't built for them.

Empowers people

Teaches the social nuances people with disabilities often wouldn’t learn otherwise.

Prevents victimization

People with disabilities are about 2.5 times more likely to be victimized. QOL teaches safety, boundaries, and self-advocacy.

Diversion from incarceration

Keeps people out of the criminal justice system, and serves as diversion for those already in it.

Outcomes-based

Learning is tested, with years of demonstrated knowledge gains. One recidivism case, ever.

Why We're Different

Most providers cover one piece. We cover all of it.

—Some providers are Autism specialists who don’t know forensics.
—Some are forensic professionals who don’t know Autism.
—Some sex-offender treatment providers treat everyone the same.
—Only about 3–4 sex-offender programs nationally were written with disabilities in mind.
Our team

Dr. Garcia, Brandon Delgado, and Dr. Josephine Avila are Autism specialists. Dr. Garcia does forensics.

Together they run their own program, are sex-offender treatment providers, and wrote QOL specifically for this population. Dr. Avila leads the national virtual group.

How the program works

Built from focus groups with people with disabilities, caregivers, educators, criminal justice staff, and professionals, QOL runs weekly virtual groups for adults and a separate group for adolescents. It can extend to 2 years with individual and caregiver sessions, and qualifies as a treatment program. Agency staff training is available too, but we recommend joining a group directly.

Social skillsHealthy relationshipsBoundariesCyber safetyAssertivenessExpressing feelings
16
Chapters
~18 months
Meeting weekly
10–20
People per virtual group

The 16 chapters

  1. 1Social SkillsMeeting people in person and using appropriate social skills with others.
  2. 2Self-EsteemMedia messages, peer pressure, and building a healthy sense of self before engaging with others.
  3. 3SexualityUnderstanding gender identity and sexuality.
  4. 4Rights & ResponsibilitiesRights for self and others, respecting boundaries, age of consent, harassment, and behaviors that can lead to the justice system.
  5. 5AssertivenessVerbal and nonverbal language, saying no, recognizing abuse, and consent.
  6. 6PubertyChanges in the body, mind, and social life, and the differences between teens and adults.
  7. 7Menstruation & MenopauseBody changes and understanding one’s own body.
  8. 8Public vs. PrivateBody parts, touch, language, and behaviors, including those that raise the risk of victimization.
  9. 9Personal Privacy & Self-CarePrivacy and safe practices that protect oneself and others.
  10. 10ReproductionHow the reproductive system works.
  11. 11Sexually Transmitted InfectionsPrevention, treatment, and understanding.
  12. 12SafetyRecognizing abuse and neglect, healthy and unhealthy relationships, and staying safe in the community and online.
  13. 13Social Media SafetySafe and unsafe online practices, what to share and with whom, texting and phone safety, and illegal content.
  14. 14Expression of FeelingsExpressing yourself appropriately in different relationships, including by text and social media.
  15. 15RelationshipsTypes of relationships, safe places to meet people, and appropriate behavior at each stage.
  16. 16Coping with RejectionUnderstanding that rejection is normal, respecting boundaries, and moving on in healthy ways.
Watch

Doing it right: sex education in the IEP

Dr. Garcia’s 2025 webinar for the Texas Organization of Parent Attorneys and Advocates on why healthy-relationships education belongs in the IEP.

Join a QOL group

For pricing and enrollment, contact us. We reply within 48 business hours.

Contact us about QOL

Need a diversion letter for a judge? We provide one for QOL participants.

Request a diversion letter