Sex and Relationship Education for People with Down s Syndrome - from Adolescence to Adulthood

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1 Sex and Relationship Education for People with Down s Syndrome - from Adolescence to Adulthood Christopher Osunsami Bethany Medcalf DSA Information and Training Officers

2 Why do we need more sex and relationship education?

3 Historically, quality of sex and relationship education (SRE) in schools: Brief Lacking in creativity Sometimes for those with special educational needs; non existent. Societal issues around sex and relationships conversations; disability adds to these reservations

4 More people with learning disabilities living in supported living services; results in: More opportunities to meet others Socialise Form relationships DSA seeing an increasing numbers of helpline queries regarding: Support around sex, Forming relationships, Privacy and boundaries

5 So, what are we doing about it?

6 SRE Training Course The creation of an 8 week training course for people with Down s syndrome Developed for people with Down s syndrome continuous revision built in throughout Course includes visual based materials covering range of current and important SRE topics

7 SRE Training Course continued Face to face training provided for support services and staff to effectively deliver the SRE material As well as receiving a training pack, additional resources can be downloaded online such as workbooks and evaluation forms Self assessments for both the trainers and participants will be included in order to assess learning and development and to highlight areas of need

8 SRE Pilot

9 SRE Pilot Successful SRE pilot carried out in the South West of England Staff enjoyed the process; keen to do it again Feedback from participants included: Feeling much more confident Having an improved understanding of consent Having more clarity around when it is appropriate or not appropriate to talk about personal and/or sexual issues

10 What will the course include?

11 Relationships and Sexuality Education 8 week SRE course content includes: A range of visual resources and illustrations Workbooks in easy read format for participants Training slides for people with Down s syndrome Evaluation forms for people with Down s syndrome in an easy read format Explanatory resource for trainers Trainer feedback forms On-going support from DSA via our helpline

12 SRE Course topic Week 1 - Rights relating to sex and relationships Week 2 - Consent» This session covers rights surrounding people with Down s syndrome. Key language, what do rights and abuse mean? Understanding contraception» What the word consent means, rules about consent, examples Week 3 - Privacy and boundaries» Private spaces our own and other people s, body parts, boundaries, physical contact

13 SRE course topic continued Week 4 - Sexual acts» Body parts, visual resources, understanding different acts Week 5 - Sexuality, gender identity and safe sex» Gender Identity, contraception, emotions and sexual activity, heterosexuality, homosexuality etc. Week 6 - Relationships» Different kinds of relationships, good and bad, meeting people, socialising, friendships

14 SRE course topic continued Week 7 - Online safety and self esteem» Talking about online safety and maintaining good self esteem. Week 8 - Review and evaluation» Full recap and evaluation both staff and participants, certificate of achievement

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17 Puberty and Adolescence Training for Parents, Carers and Practitioners From 2017 the DSA has provided new puberty and adolescence training to parents and professionals The training covers: - how to talk about physical and emotional changes - Sex and relationship education - Supporting friendships and self esteem

18 Contact us Please see our website for up-to-date information: us: Telephone: Our Helpline is open Monday - Friday 10am-4pm