Sex Education for Adolescents with Mild-Moderate Learning Disabilities

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Relationship and Sexuality Education for Adolescents with Mild Intellectual Disabilities.

Louise O’Flynn

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BACKGROUND

• Scoil Bernadette• Department of

Health Promotion, HSE (South)• Youth Health

Service

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M ILD INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY

•IQ <70

•75-80% of I.D. is “Mild”

•IQ and deficits in ‘adaptive behaviour’

•Difficulties in daily functioning – communication, self

care, social understanding, judgement (gullibility)

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GULLIBILITY

• Lack of social intelligence = easily manipulated

• False confessions to murder

• Interrupt managers meeting for a chat

• Believe an abuser when they say that certain type of

sexual behaviour is normal for ‘friends’ or ‘family

members’

(Greenspan, 2009)

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SEXUALITY & I.D.

•No link before 1970’s – nonsexual/unfit parents

•High rates of sexual abuse

•Physical puberty at early adolescence

•Social, emotional, experiential may not coincide like peers

•Media and peers – questioning

•Parents and teachers lack of training re: RSE

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AMERICA

•Leslie Walker-Hirsch

•Sexuality & intimacy for people with I.D.

•Resident case 1979 – highlight lack of and need for RSE

•Residents goals- relationships, marriage, sexuality

•The Rainbow Support Group 1998

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WH Y DO WE NEED RSE FO R ADO LESCENTS WITH AN I .D .

•HSPC (HSE, 2013) - prevalence of Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea and

Herpes in < 15 years

•15-29 years highest prevalence of all S.T.Is

•High instances of sexual abuse

•Relationships, social, political, health

•Disadvantaged background & I.D.

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S U C C E S S F U L R S E F O R A D O L E S C E N T S W I T H I . D . N E E D S

•Repetition

•Demonstration

•Visual & Concrete representation

•Diagrams

•Kits

•Rights and strengths based approach

•Resources, policy, parental/carer involvement

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CORK

•HSE – Department of Health Promotion, Cork

•Access to library of RSE tools

•Both mainstream and special needs provision

•Busy Bodies, Body Board, Picture Yourself, Periods-guide

•Links with Youth Health Service

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CHILDREN’S RESPONSES

‘It was important to learn about where it’s ok to touch my friends

and where it’s not ok’ Sally

‘It was good to learn about showering and changing our socks

and underwear’ Jake

‘Learning how to use a condom was good’ Kelly

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NATIONAL DISABILITY AUTHORITY

•Independent state body- expert advice to minister

•Department of Justice and Law Reform

•National Disability Authority Act 1999

•Rights vs. Protection

•Individual people and cases

•‘Consent can fluctuate’

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S E X U A L H E A LT H C E N T R E C O R K R E P O RT

•Irish Family Planning Association 1969

•Irish Sexual Education Network 2002

•S.H.C.: 1987 Cork & Kerry workshops

•Schools, parents, professional, youth groups

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T H E C U R R E N T S TAT U S O F S E X U A L E D U C AT I O N F O R P E O P L E W I T H I . D . I N

I R E L A N D - P O L I C Y R E P O RT

•Need for:• National policy guidelines for evidence based

practise• Knowledge & research with people who have I.D.• Parents, educators and carers training and

development• Resources

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YOUT H HE ALT H SE RVICE CORK

•Walk in clinic in Cork city available for those < 21 years

•Free sexual health, counselling, S.T.I. screening, crisis pregnancy

•Access for children and parents

•Youth Worker Model approach – what do you know?

•Use primary school equipment for I.D. adolescents- Busy Bodies

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I M P O RTA N C E O F R S E F O R T H O S E W I T H I . D .

•Education from an early age = balance between

protection and rights/freedom

•‘Informed’ Consent is actually informed

•Knowledge & Competence

•Independence, Ability, Agency

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‘THE UNDATEABLES’

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