Winner of the Greater London Training Award
Winner of the Greater London Training Award
Course profile: Sexuality & Learning Disabilities
Talking sex on a superficial or humorous level can be very much easier to do than discussing this very complex subject with maturity. The subject can be particularly problematic when it comes to the field of learning disabilities; some denying the adult needs of service users, some trivializing them and others acting in a highly oppressive and controlling manner. Some organisations take a very liberal stand on the subject without thinking it through; thus potentially leading to accusations of abuse and/or neglect.
This course aims to help learners examine the subject in a professional way and thus understand what their responsibilities are in todays climate and within the law
Learning objectives:
By the end of the course learners should have understood:
the need to consider the sexual needs of people with
learning disabilities.
how to approach this area in a sensitive, respectful, legal and ethical
manner.
Course content:
Why have sexuality training?
The difficulties that most groups experience in approaching this challenging
area
Identifying the areas that may produce tensions: To include:
Sex outside of a marriage
People living together outside of marriage
Same sex relationships
Masturbation
Contraception
Termination
Sex education
Assisting with sexually
etc
Definitions of Sexuality
Sexuality as a human need
What does expression of sexuality in its broadest meaning give to a person?
To include: Self esteem, intimacy, physical pleasure etc
The impact of denied sexuality
To include frustrations, exclusion, poor self image, aggression, withdrawal etc
Institutional care and sexuality
How have people with Learning Disabilities traditionally been cared for in
relation to sexuality? To include the issue of group living, institutional
practices, the imposition of moral codes and staff behaviour
Families and their perception of service users as being non-sexual
Public attitudes, stigmatisation and the effects of infantilisation
What support, if any would be appropriate for staff to offer?
How to focus on professional responsibility and not get oneself enmeshed in
conflict between service users needs and staff personal morality
Clarification as to what is expected from staff in terms of support and personal
behaviour
Help available
What professionals and agencies can assist in offering appropriate support to
both service users, families and staff?
Definitions of sexual abuse
Naming different ways in which service users can be abused/exploited
What is our responsibility in terms of protection?
The law
What laws specifically give protection and how do they work?
Working within the law
Workshop:
Groupwork - exploring how the following would be dealt with:
Same sex relationships
Two service users in a relationship
A service user wishing to marry
A service user discloses she/he is having a relationship with a local person
A service user is found to be pregnant
A service user wants to know about sex
Sex education and sexual health (including HIV)
Menstruation
Contraception
Termination
Childbirth and child rearing, Adoption, fostering
Other issues identified by the group
Working methods:
Ice breaking exercises
Lecture
Small and larger group work
Chalk and talk
OHPs
Role Play
Word storming exercises
Handouts
Examination of policy, guidelines and legal documentation
Please note that the depth of exploration will very much depend on the time available. One day courses will involve an overview with limited discussion time and will not include workshop time.
2nd floor, 42 Station Rd., Portslade, East Sussex, BN41
1AG
Tel: 01273 414000 Fax: 01273 422777