D2: WOW! Sexuality:
Resources & Tips for Parents
Presented by:
Ruth Price, MPH, MEd, CHES
Struggling to talk about sexuality with your sons and daughters?
This workshop will provide parents with information, strategies, and tips on sexuality,
social skills, and behavior to meet the unique needs of youth with disabilities.
Remember when…
Norman Rockwell: “Facts of Life”
S-E-X + Disabilities + Teens
What to Expect
① Explore personal values
② Understand myths &
facts about sexuality &
disability
③ Increase comfort level
regarding talking to your
teens & young adults
about sex
④ Next steps: where to go
for help and support
House Rules: Confidentiality
What
happens in
Vegas…
…stays in
Vegas!
WHAT? S-E-X! SEXUALITY?
O What is sex?
O What is sexuality?
O What is sexual health?
O What is sexual
identify?
O What is sexual gender?
O What is sexual
intercourse?
O What’s normal? What’s
not?
Sexuality is….
O
O
O
O
O
Large concept, multiple
dimensions
Who we are, our sense of identity,
and how we see our places in the
world, and what we believe about
our potentials and capabilities
Cumulative process, continuing
throughout our lives
Shapes our sexual expectations &
behaviors
As we grow and mature our needs
change, our capabilities change,
our desire for intimacy and
closeness changes
Sex (male/female)
Gender identify/role
Biology
Sexual orientation
Psychology
Pleasures, desires and
thoughts
O Values
O Social skills &
relationships (ourselves,
friends, care-givers,
partners)
O
O
O
O
O
O
Myths About Sexuality &
Disability
O Asexual (undersexed)
O Not desirable, can’t have “real” sex
O More important things to worry about
O Child-like (dependent)
O “Shouldn’t have sex if live in institutions,
group homes or with parents”
O Sexually impulsive/uncontrollable
(oversexed)
Check in…where are you?
3 Areas to Think About
1. Basic Facts & Personal Safety
 Privacy
 Boundaries
 body identification
 correct terminology
 Personal space
 self
 others
 Safety issues
 okay touch (good v. bad)
 self-advocacy
 Pleasure/Intimacy
2. Individual Values
 appropriate behavior
depends on family values
 mutual/consensual/legal
3. Social Competence
 develop positive self image
 am I ‘normal’
 social opportunities to grow
& learn from social errors
 common mistakes
Parents & Older Siblings:
Start Talking & Modeling
O Recognize sexuality as a
O
O
O
O
O
O
positive, healthy part of
being human
Make information
understandable
Use pictures
“Teachable moments”
Repeat, repeat, repeat
Review & check-in
Role model healthy
relationships &
boundaries
What goes where? On who?
I’m not
normal!
Bold + Uncomfortable =Safety
O Prepare your child to be
his/her own protector
O Help your child understand
his/her body
O Know accurate terms
O Talk about body
ownership “your parts”
O Intuitive signals: sweaty
palms & underarms,
shaky knees & legs,
“tummy ache”, heart beat
faster, “tingly down there”
???
O Ask parent or trusted
adult
Sex ed. at home & school ?
O Guiding principles for both
parents & teachers
O Sequential & coordinated
teaching
O Assess risks & make healthy
decisions
O Understand & communicate
health information clearly
O Create safe & supporting
environment
O Partnership
O Repeat, repeat and
repeat!
O Pre-K through Grade 12 Strands
O Physical Health
O Social & Emotional Health
O Safety & Prevention
O Personal & Community
Health
Massachusetts Comprehensive
Health Curriculum Framework,
October 1999
Sample IEP Annual Goal
P-O-W-E-R Approach
O Preparation
O prepare yourself, be informed, and (practice!)
O Open Attitudes
O comfortable talking about sex, dating, relationships, safety
O Where are you?
O Be present, be involved, be curious, ask, look & listen
O Exposure
O Need to see and interact people in varied relationships
O Reality Check
O YWD are Youth first! Teens, hormones, crushes, etc.
experimenting with themselves and with relationships.
Adapted from the National Consortium on Leadership & Disability for Youth
Questions ? ? ?
Thank you!
Health Quarters
O Non-profit, reproductive health
O
changing lives through
health care & sexuality
education
healthq.org
800.297.7738
ruthp@healthq.org
O
O
O
O
O
& family planning agency
Provider of accessible health
services in Beverly, Haverhill
and Lawrence
HIV/STD’s screening, testing &
treatment
Men, women, and teens
Affordable, knowledgeable &
confidential services
Bilingual services
Outreach, education, technical
assistance and professional
development services