About
Our Story
ACES was created to fill a long-standing gap in sexuality education for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. For decades, families, schools, and service providers have struggled to find accurate, accessible, and compassionate materials that honor dignity, support safety, and empower individuals to understand their own bodies and relationships.
We saw how often people with I/DD were left without the tools they needed to advocate for themselves, navigate boundaries, or build meaningful and safe relationships. ACES was founded to change that—by offering education that is clear, visual, respectful, and truly accessible to all learners.
Who We Serve
ACES supports individuals, families, and organizations across a wide range of settings:
- Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities
- Parents, caregivers, and family members
- School districts and educational teams
- Day programs, residential providers, and community agencies
- Legal and behavioral teams seeking specialized support
- Private groups, community trainings, and advocacy organizations
No matter the setting, we meet learners and teams where they are and adapt our approach to fit their strengths, needs, and learning styles.
Our Philosophy
Sexuality education should never be shame-based, restrictive, or inaccessible. At ACES, we believe:
- Every person has the right to safe, honest, and inclusive information.
- Education should empower—not frighten or limit—individuals.
- Consent, communication, boundaries, and self-advocacy are foundational skills.
- Neurodiversity and individual differences should be respected and celebrated.
- Safety is best supported through clear teaching, modeling, and consistent supports.
- Teaching must be trauma-informed, compassionate, and culturally sensitive.
Our approach blends evidence-based strategies with real-world tools, helping individuals grow in confidence, independence, and personal safety.
Our Approach
ACES uses practical, accessible methodologies designed specifically for learners with diverse communication, cognitive, and sensory needs, including:
- Visual supports and step-by-step teaching
- Social narratives and real-world scenarios
- Task-analysis and structured skill-building
- Modeling and role-play
- Language that is inclusive, clear, and concrete
- Evidence-based behavior support when challenges arise
Everything we create is designed to be used across home, school, and community environments for consistency and success.
Safety is at the center of everything we teach. ACES focuses on:
- Public vs. private understanding
- Body safety and consent
- Recognizing safe and unsafe situations
- Identifying trusted people
- Reducing risky or unsafe behaviors
- Developing individualized safety plans when needed
We work collaboratively with families, educators, and teams to ensure safety plans are proactive, respectful, and truly individualized.
ACES strives to create a world where individuals with I/DD:
- Receive inclusive, affirming sexuality education
- Understand their rights, choices, and boundaries
- Build healthy and meaningful relationships
- Are supported by informed families and teams
- Feel safe, confident, and empowered in their daily lives
Education changes outcomes—and ACES is committed to leading that change with compassion, expertise, and respect.
ACES is led by Dr. Bobbie Gallagher, PhD, BCBA-D, a nationally recognized educator, consultant, and advocate with more than 30 years of experience supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families across schools, agencies, and community systems.
I founded ACES in 2006, originally as an educational advocacy service. At that time, my work focused on helping families navigate school systems, understand their rights, and make sure their children received the supports they needed. As my career progressed, ACES expanded into consulting for families, schools, and agencies, addressing both educational and behavioral needs.
Over the years, I listened to countless stories from parents, educators, and individuals themselves—stories about confusion, fear, boundary violations, relationship challenges, and a lack of accessible information about sexuality for people with I/DD. It became clear that sexuality education was one of the most underserved and urgently needed areas of support.
That realization shifted the direction of ACES. Today, my work focuses on providing clear, evidence-based, and compassionate sexuality education that empowers individuals, supports families, and builds safer, more informed communities.
This work matters because every person deserves to understand their own body, relationships, and rights. ACES exists to make that possible.
— Bobbie