Training opportunities are being offered statewide to adult self-advocates and their family members or caregivers to increase their understanding of healthy and unhealthy relationships and the issues that lead to and ways to prevent sexual abuse and exploitation of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities experience sexual abuse and exploitation at significantly higher rates than in the population at large. Unfortunately, individuals with intellectual and development disabilities are also more vulnerable to repeated abuse and exploitation when incidences go unreported. Many factors contribute to this increased risk including, but not limited to, a lack of understanding of human anatomy, sexual development, and healthy relationships.
Take advantage of this incredible opportunity to receive valuable information to protect yourself or a loved one! Each training session is free to attend, but you must pre-register as seating is limited. These training events are provided through a partnership between the Council and Team Dynamics, LLC.
For more information about registration, training content and presenters please reach out to Sharon Delvisco at [email protected] or 985-624-3514. The list will be updated as more trainings are scheduled.
Friday, September 10, 2021 – Online Webinar
9:00 AM – 11:30 AM (Session for parents / family members) Registration
12:30 PM – 2:30 PM (Session for self-advocates) Registration
August 24, 31 – September 7, 2021 – 6 Topic Retreat Style Training Series
Click here for more information.
October 1, 8 and 15, 2021 – 6 Topic Retreat Style Training Series
Click here for more information.
In addition to these training opportunities, self-advocates, their families and professionals are encouraged to check out the free webinars made available by the Association of University Centers on Disabilities. These informative and educational webinars cover topics such as healthy relationships, dating, intimacy, consent, safe sex practices and more. Click the links below for more information about each webinar and additional resources.
Sex Talk for Self-Advocates #1
This webinar will focus on questions and topics such as “How do I meet someone?”, “How do you know if someone is your boyfriend or girlfriend?”, “What exactly does consent mean?”, “How do I talk with my partner?”, “Is a non-disabled partner at risk for having sex with a disabled partner?”, and “How to be gay?”.
Sex Talk for Self-Advocates #2
This webinar will focus on sex and intimacy, discussing questions and topics such as “What is sex and how do I do it?”, “What are normal sex activities?”, “Is sex like it is in the movies?”, “Where should I have sex?”, “What is the proper way to clean various sex toys?”, Masturbation and Pleasure and Safety.
Sex Talk for Self-Advocates #3
This webinar will focus on safe sex practices related to sexually transmitted infections (STI). The sexuality educators will discuss questions and topics such as “How do I have safe sex?”, “What is a STI?”, “What do you do if you get a STI?”, “How do you ask your partner if [they] have a STI?”, and “How to avoid diseases?”.
Sex Talk for Self-Advocates #4
This webinar you will hear from self-advocates as they talk about their experiences being married, dating, partnered, and single. It is well documented meaningful relationships are connected to better health, social, and quality of life outcomes for all people, including people with disabilities. Relationships can help to create a greater sense of identity, self-worth, and belonging. Relationships are important, but they can look different for all of us.
Sex Talk for Self-Advocates #5
This webinar will focus on birth control and contraception for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and address questions and topics such as “What is birth control?”, “What are the types of birth control and how do you use it?”, “What are the side effects to birth control?”, “How do you get birth control?” and Family planning considerations.
Advancing Sexual Self-Advocacy for People with Disabilities
This webinar will address the rights to sexual citizenship of people with disabilities and ways to advance sexual self-advocacy as a best-practice strategy to facilitate empowerment among people with disabilities. Many people with disabilities experience profound marginalization in multiple human rights domains, including disparities in sexual and reproductive health.