The Birds and The Bees-support for teaching human sexuality to students with special needs
Do you remember how you first learned about sex?Maybe from your parents (“the talk”), at school, or from friends. Maybe someone was honest and open with you. Maybe you got mixed messages or weird information.
People who have disabilities need to learn about sex too, but they might have a harder time sifting through the misinformation.
Teaching human sexuality is about formal lessons, selecting information, and choosing how to teach it, but it’s more than that. To be a sexuality educator you have to see the whole person and be committed to support that person. It’s not easy, it won’t be prefect, and you might make mistakes. READ MORE
Do you remember how you first learned about sex?Maybe from your parents (“the talk”), at school, or from friends. Maybe someone was honest and open with you. Maybe you got mixed messages or weird information.
People who have disabilities need to learn about sex too, but they might have a harder time sifting through the misinformation.
Teaching human sexuality is about formal lessons, selecting information, and choosing how to teach it, but it’s more than that. To be a sexuality educator you have to see the whole person and be committed to support that person. It’s not easy, it won’t be prefect, and you might make mistakes. READ MORE
Let’s Talk About Disability, Periods, and Alternative Menstrual Products
by CrippledScholar
The dearth of material on disability and menstruation from the disabled perspective likely has a number of influences that include the fact that menstruation is still unfortunately a taboo subject generally that people are embarrassed to talk about. Add to that the very idea of disability and sexuality is also still (somehow) widely denied. Which is, I suspect why so many nondisabled people feel so comfortable talking about period cessation as a reasonable solution to disabled people who have periods.
This focus on just stopping the whole business of menstruation is frustrating because it primarily marks the disabled body and its natural functions as too inconvenient. It also means that for those of us who do menstruate that we are left with disability specific information on how to deal with our periods.
It is the latter issue that I’m going to deal with now because the first issue while so important is just to big for me to handle right now.
aREAD MORE
by CrippledScholar
The dearth of material on disability and menstruation from the disabled perspective likely has a number of influences that include the fact that menstruation is still unfortunately a taboo subject generally that people are embarrassed to talk about. Add to that the very idea of disability and sexuality is also still (somehow) widely denied. Which is, I suspect why so many nondisabled people feel so comfortable talking about period cessation as a reasonable solution to disabled people who have periods.
This focus on just stopping the whole business of menstruation is frustrating because it primarily marks the disabled body and its natural functions as too inconvenient. It also means that for those of us who do menstruate that we are left with disability specific information on how to deal with our periods.
It is the latter issue that I’m going to deal with now because the first issue while so important is just to big for me to handle right now.
aREAD MORE
Sexuality and Relationships Education for Students with Special Needs
by Hush Education
"...Included here is information about the particular sexuality education needs of young people with an ID and why it is crucial for these young people – even more than others – to have access to specialized programs. Also which topics must be covered in programs for youth with special needs, and finally, some clues (that have worked for me) for teaching/presenting programs to youth with intellectual disabilities.Education about sex and sexuality is important for all children and teenagers. Young people with intellectual disabilities have the same range of sexual thoughts, attitudes, feelings, desires and fantasies as youth without disabilities. Most young people with an ID go through puberty at the same age as their peers and experience the same physical, emotional and hormonal changes– yet often parents and teachers believe that these youth are uninterested in, or unable to have sexual relationships, and therefore don’t need the same sexuality education opportunities as their contemporaries in mainstream schools." READ MORE
by Hush Education
"...Included here is information about the particular sexuality education needs of young people with an ID and why it is crucial for these young people – even more than others – to have access to specialized programs. Also which topics must be covered in programs for youth with special needs, and finally, some clues (that have worked for me) for teaching/presenting programs to youth with intellectual disabilities.Education about sex and sexuality is important for all children and teenagers. Young people with intellectual disabilities have the same range of sexual thoughts, attitudes, feelings, desires and fantasies as youth without disabilities. Most young people with an ID go through puberty at the same age as their peers and experience the same physical, emotional and hormonal changes– yet often parents and teachers believe that these youth are uninterested in, or unable to have sexual relationships, and therefore don’t need the same sexuality education opportunities as their contemporaries in mainstream schools." READ MORE
Click here for The Healthy Bodies Toolkit
Autism and Puberty, What I Wish I Would Have Known... by Autism, It's all in the family
I’m writing this post to give anyone who is facing puberty with an autistic child head on some advice from an autistic point of view. Here goes:
I’m an almost 33 year old mother of three now, but at one point in time I was a young girl in approximately 5th or 6th grade who had a ton of questions and nowhere near enough answers.
Puberty is a very uncomfortable topic for most parents and definitely a difficult topic for children to discuss. It involves so many dynamics and so many different things that no one knows where to even begin. I decided in offering advice to my readers here that I would lay out what happened with me, what I wish would have happened, and how I would have liked for the topic to be approached. READ MORE
I’m writing this post to give anyone who is facing puberty with an autistic child head on some advice from an autistic point of view. Here goes:
I’m an almost 33 year old mother of three now, but at one point in time I was a young girl in approximately 5th or 6th grade who had a ton of questions and nowhere near enough answers.
Puberty is a very uncomfortable topic for most parents and definitely a difficult topic for children to discuss. It involves so many dynamics and so many different things that no one knows where to even begin. I decided in offering advice to my readers here that I would lay out what happened with me, what I wish would have happened, and how I would have liked for the topic to be approached. READ MORE
On (A)sexuality by The Third Glance
General note: this post does not merit a “mature content” warning, but as the word “sex” is used and LGBT(QIA) ideas are discussed, and after all, the word sexuality is in the title, so I figured I would put up this obnoxious run-on sentence telling you there’s no “adult content” in the post below.
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I often feel like my asexuality is a shame to the rest of the disability community. I’m afraid to talk about it, because it fits a stereotype of disabled people that is for the most part absolutely and completely wrong, horribly unfair and grounded in prejudice and awfulness. I know many disabled people who are sexual, often despite many attempts from society to shut them down, and I applaud that, and respect it, because everyone should have the chance to experience the full extent of whatever makes them human. READ MORE
General note: this post does not merit a “mature content” warning, but as the word “sex” is used and LGBT(QIA) ideas are discussed, and after all, the word sexuality is in the title, so I figured I would put up this obnoxious run-on sentence telling you there’s no “adult content” in the post below.
————————————————————————-
I often feel like my asexuality is a shame to the rest of the disability community. I’m afraid to talk about it, because it fits a stereotype of disabled people that is for the most part absolutely and completely wrong, horribly unfair and grounded in prejudice and awfulness. I know many disabled people who are sexual, often despite many attempts from society to shut them down, and I applaud that, and respect it, because everyone should have the chance to experience the full extent of whatever makes them human. READ MORE
R is for Relationships
by Unstrange Mind
This is an entry for the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. I didn’t quite make it in April. I moved in May. I’m finishing the alphabet in June.R is for Relationships
This is such a huge topic, it would take an entire book to do it justice, but there are some very important highlights I need to hit when speaking of autism acceptance and relationships. READ MORE
by Unstrange Mind
This is an entry for the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. I didn’t quite make it in April. I moved in May. I’m finishing the alphabet in June.R is for Relationships
This is such a huge topic, it would take an entire book to do it justice, but there are some very important highlights I need to hit when speaking of autism acceptance and relationships. READ MORE
At the Intersection of Gender and Autism – Part I
by Musings of an Aspie
"...Too young to understand sensory sensitivities, I followed my instincts. While other girls favored frilly clothes, I gravitated toward the soft comfort of cotton shirts and worn corduroys.Somehow, comfort got mixed up with gender in my head. For decades, “dressing like a girl” meant being uncomfortable. And so began a lifelong tension between being female and being autistic...."READ MORE
by Musings of an Aspie
"...Too young to understand sensory sensitivities, I followed my instincts. While other girls favored frilly clothes, I gravitated toward the soft comfort of cotton shirts and worn corduroys.Somehow, comfort got mixed up with gender in my head. For decades, “dressing like a girl” meant being uncomfortable. And so began a lifelong tension between being female and being autistic...."READ MORE
Talking about sex & relationships: the views of young people w/learning disabilities
The final report of the sexuality project by CHANGE 2007-2010
This report talks about the Sex and Relationships project. This was a 3-year project that took place at CHANGE, a leading national organisation led by disabled people that is based in Leeds, in England, that fights for the rights of people with learning disabilities. The project was funded by the Big Lottery Fund: Health and Social Research Grants Programme. We worked in partnership with the Centre for Disability Studies at the University of Leeds. READ MORE
The final report of the sexuality project by CHANGE 2007-2010
This report talks about the Sex and Relationships project. This was a 3-year project that took place at CHANGE, a leading national organisation led by disabled people that is based in Leeds, in England, that fights for the rights of people with learning disabilities. The project was funded by the Big Lottery Fund: Health and Social Research Grants Programme. We worked in partnership with the Centre for Disability Studies at the University of Leeds. READ MORE
Autistics do it better. (MATURE CONTENT) by John Scott Holman
OK, so that isn’t necessarily true, but I got your attention didn’t I?
I’ve never been skilled in the art of subtlety, so I’ll just come out and say it: Autistic people have sex! If reading this statement makes you feel a bit nauseous, well, tough—autistic children grow up! Contrary to popular belief, not all of us are quirky, asexual robots. C’mon Temple Grandin, people are animals too! Enough about cows, let’s talk about the birds and the bees.
Unfortunately, many parents dread having the sex talk with their children, carefully avoiding that particular can of worms as long as possible. Guess what, with or without you, your child will one day get hold of a can opener. If you don’t educate them about sex, someone else will. Think fifth grade is too early? Well, their peers don’t—word around the schoolyard goes from Pokémon to Penthouse in the blink of an eye. READ MORE
OK, so that isn’t necessarily true, but I got your attention didn’t I?
I’ve never been skilled in the art of subtlety, so I’ll just come out and say it: Autistic people have sex! If reading this statement makes you feel a bit nauseous, well, tough—autistic children grow up! Contrary to popular belief, not all of us are quirky, asexual robots. C’mon Temple Grandin, people are animals too! Enough about cows, let’s talk about the birds and the bees.
Unfortunately, many parents dread having the sex talk with their children, carefully avoiding that particular can of worms as long as possible. Guess what, with or without you, your child will one day get hold of a can opener. If you don’t educate them about sex, someone else will. Think fifth grade is too early? Well, their peers don’t—word around the schoolyard goes from Pokémon to Penthouse in the blink of an eye. READ MORE
autism, puberty and respect – part two by A Diary of a Mom
Once in a very rare while, there’s something that I know with such certainty that I feel compelled to drag out my soapbox and shout it to the sky. This is one of those times. So please indulge me. I know this. I promise.
Talk to your kids about puberty.
Yes, I’m talking to you. You, who think they can’t possibly get it. Please don’t stop reading. This isn’t for People Who Aren’t You. This is for You.
Whether your children are verbal or nonspeaking, appear to understand words or don’t. Whether they are in a mainstream classroom with little support or are in a one to one program and not yet toileting independently at ten.
I’m asking you to talk to them.
All that writing I do about presuming competence? Well, this is what it means. READ MORE
Once in a very rare while, there’s something that I know with such certainty that I feel compelled to drag out my soapbox and shout it to the sky. This is one of those times. So please indulge me. I know this. I promise.
Talk to your kids about puberty.
Yes, I’m talking to you. You, who think they can’t possibly get it. Please don’t stop reading. This isn’t for People Who Aren’t You. This is for You.
Whether your children are verbal or nonspeaking, appear to understand words or don’t. Whether they are in a mainstream classroom with little support or are in a one to one program and not yet toileting independently at ten.
I’m asking you to talk to them.
All that writing I do about presuming competence? Well, this is what it means. READ MORE
Following are links to mulitple articles by NakedBrainInk re. autism and sexuality. They include frank discussions of important issues:
9 Things You Must Include in Sexuality Education for Individuals with ASD: "...A well-rounded, inclusive sexuality education for individuals with ASD is essential. Even when parents, professionals and educators are providing that education, some vital components are still left out. The autism spectrum is extremely diverse, and developing a universal sex education curriculum that would apply to all is no easy task - if that task is even possible." READ MORE
Our Voices: What are the Greatest Myths of AUtism and Sexuality? Autism and sexuality is not a conceptualized idea. It's a reality. Myths and misunderstandings tend to be especially magnetized to cultural taboos. At present, the combination of disability and sexuality remains a taboo to the eyes of those who have not been exposed to the concept. READ MORE
One Photograph to Break My Silence: A Heart-to-Heart Conversation on Autism and Sexual Abuse: Content and Trigger Warning: The following article contains references to sexual abuse, sexual assault and sexual violence.
Imagine a deep dark secret... a secret only you or a very few other people know... that you have kept locked inside for a significant part of your life. Imagine taking that deep dark secret, and letting it spill into words you write on a blank poster with a Sharpie marker. Imagine holding up that poster... READ MORE
9 Things You Must Include in Sexuality Education for Individuals with ASD: "...A well-rounded, inclusive sexuality education for individuals with ASD is essential. Even when parents, professionals and educators are providing that education, some vital components are still left out. The autism spectrum is extremely diverse, and developing a universal sex education curriculum that would apply to all is no easy task - if that task is even possible." READ MORE
Our Voices: What are the Greatest Myths of AUtism and Sexuality? Autism and sexuality is not a conceptualized idea. It's a reality. Myths and misunderstandings tend to be especially magnetized to cultural taboos. At present, the combination of disability and sexuality remains a taboo to the eyes of those who have not been exposed to the concept. READ MORE
One Photograph to Break My Silence: A Heart-to-Heart Conversation on Autism and Sexual Abuse: Content and Trigger Warning: The following article contains references to sexual abuse, sexual assault and sexual violence.
Imagine a deep dark secret... a secret only you or a very few other people know... that you have kept locked inside for a significant part of your life. Imagine taking that deep dark secret, and letting it spill into words you write on a blank poster with a Sharpie marker. Imagine holding up that poster... READ MORE
autism and sexuality – consulting the experts by Diary of a Mom
(post includes
However, just because it’s hard (or even impossible) to talk about, doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist. Humans are, as a general rule, sexual creatures. We experience urges and desires. All of us. (Yes, even asexuals – click on the link.) And that means that we, as parents, have a responsibility to do everything in our power to help our kids understand what those urges are, what sexuality is, and how to have a healthy relationship with it. It’s also, of course, incumbent on us to teach our kids how to recognize and protect themselves against abuse. READ MORE
(post includes
However, just because it’s hard (or even impossible) to talk about, doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist. Humans are, as a general rule, sexual creatures. We experience urges and desires. All of us. (Yes, even asexuals – click on the link.) And that means that we, as parents, have a responsibility to do everything in our power to help our kids understand what those urges are, what sexuality is, and how to have a healthy relationship with it. It’s also, of course, incumbent on us to teach our kids how to recognize and protect themselves against abuse. READ MORE
