Woodburn uses self-defense classes to help adult students with disabilities

Children with disabilities are almost four times more likely to experience violence than non-disabled children.

And the problem follows them as they get older.

Adults with disabilities are still one and a half times more likely to experience violence than those without disabilities, according to the World Health Organization. Those with mental health conditions are at nearly four times the risk.

Woodburn School District's Bridges Transition program is combating this by teaching its participants martial arts.

The program works with 18- to 21-year-olds with cognitive disabilities who primarily need necessary life skills, like how to clean an apartment, apply for a job and manage money.

The program also helps them connect with community organizations and resources.

By teaching them how to use their voices and demonstrate confidence, CJ High, a learning specialist for the program, said, "We can affect not only their safety in the community, but their ability to gain employment, be social (and) advocate for their needs when there is no one there to do it for them."

Participants have completed high school — typically by earning a modified diploma or certificate of attendance — and can receive educational learning opportunities from the district until they are 21 under Oregon law. 

But success looks different for each student.

Depending on their abilities, some attend to become more comfortable and independent under the care of their parents or guardians. Others are working toward living on their own, holding steady employment and traveling. 

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Though the Bridges Transition program has existed in some form for about 12 years, leaders started a new initiative this year in partnership with Ascent Martial Arts, currently operating out of ATA Martial Arts & Karate for Kids, in Keizer. 

The program's 13 participants travel to Keizer twice a week for a 45-minute class that teaches self-defense basics. 

After just a few months, program specialist High is seeing a difference. 

"They're speaking up more, using their voice. I see them carry themselves with a lot more confidence," he said.

"A lot of times in the past, they'd be afraid to ask for help," he said. "They would just sit and wait until somebody came over and said, 'Do you need help?' And now they're saying, 'Hey, can you come over and help me?' "

Using martial arts to grow

As class begins, the Woodburn students go through all the regular steps of such a class.

Students — dressed in the iconic, all-white uniform and cloth belt — face the front of the studio and commit to practicing "in the spirit of Taekwondo" and to respect their classmates, instructors and selves.

They must maintain eye contact, actively listen and answer with "sir" and "ma'am."

They walk through various floor exercises, practice on large kicking bags, work in partners and often do exercises they're less than comfortable doing.

At one point in a recent class, a student was told to practice a choking hold. The student "being choked" said, "Oh my god, I don't like this." One of the instructors stopped the class and said, "That's exactly why we need to do it."

Instructor Nathaniel Mauro said they do these things in the studio — a safe place — so the students can make mistakes and practice the correct responses. 

"I pray that it never happens to you, but if it does, you'll know what to do," he told the class. 

Before they reached choking exercises, Mauro had the students tell him ways to de-escalate a situation before it reaches violence, such as getting out of the way, telling the person, "Please let go," then declaring, "I said, 'Let Go!' " 

For 21-year-old Abram Cortes, the martial arts class has boosted his confidence and allowed him to be more outgoing.

He said his favorite part is working with the bo staffs because he loved playing with sticks as child, and it reminds him he can use them if he's ever in danger.

Cortes plans to live on his own one day, find a job and travel with his friends — Rome is first on their list. 

"I was shy before," he said. "Now, I'm able to explain (more) and say what I need and what I need help with."

High's idea to have the students learn martial arts stemmed from his own experience with the Keizer studio where he and his family train.

By taking the martial arts classes, participants increase their physical activity, something students transitioning into adulthood often lack when they used to have the options of P.E. and sports.

But the class also helps students feel more comfortable defending themselves and increases their communication abilities more broadly. 

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"These guys can do stuff, they can do things," said program specialist High. "What we really need is to give them the opportunity to do it.

"A lot of times they come out, they don’t know how to access things in their community," he said. "They don't know where the YMCA is or where Zumba classes are or even how to get into them.

"So just opening up those doors and saying, 'Yeah, you know what, you're a little different, but hey, come in, let's see what you can do.' "

The importance of confidence

On the first day of class, instructor Mauro wanted to immediately push the students out of their comfort zones. So, he made them maintain eye contact for 30 seconds.

After, he asked how many were uncomfortable — everyone's hands went up.

"I was like, 'OK, that's good, we're doing the right thing then,' because you have to be able to maintain eye contact to demonstrate confidence," he said. 

When you know how to fight, you walk with more confidence, Mauro said. If you know how to be loud, then you don't have to be loud.

"Level one is always projecting confidence — standing, making eye contact, speaking with a clear, confident voice," he said. "(It) tells people who might think of you as prey that you aren't prey. And in fact, you don't want to mess with me."

Mauro said because this population is at greater risk of being harmed and abused, it's important they know they can control their reaction and they have control over their bodies.

The second class, Mauro had the students work with partners on saying, "Please let go of me," progressing to a stern, "Let go of me."

But the most uncomfortable he'd seen them was when he had them say, "I don't like that."

"I think for most of these people, they are under the control of others so frequently because they're seen as having huge limitations and I think other limitations are imagined," Mauro said.

"Many of them have been used to, 'Okay, well, whatever someone says I have to do because that's the way it's been,' " he said. "Being able to say, 'No. You know what? Actually, I have a preference. I want to have some control over my life,' that's critical."

Mauro, who teaches the class with his wife, Tawnia Mauro, said this lesson is particularly important to girls and women, not just because they are more likely to be attacked, but because they often have a hard time being loud and are perceived as weaker.

He wants them to be able to say, "No, leave me alone," and, "I'm not kidding."

For more information on Woodburn's Bridges Transition program, go to www.woodburnsd.org/district/departments/bridges/ or call 503-981-9555.

Contact reporter Natalie Pate at npate@StatesmanJournal.com, 503-399-6745 or follow her on Twitter @Nataliempate or Facebook at www.Facebook.com/nataliepatejournalist.

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