supporting parents & caregivers

SUPPORTING PARENTS & CAREGIVERS

Healthy Relationships and Sexual Health for All Abilities

through Childhood, Puberty, & Beyond

Kim Rossow, MPH Parent/Caregiver Education Specialist

sexualityforallabilities.com

www.sexualityforallabilities.com

WHO WE ARE & WHAT WE DO

• Mad Hatter Wellness, founded by Katie Thune, provides learning opportunities to empower people of all abilities with knowledge and skills to make safe and healthy choices.

• We focus on educating about healthy relationships, with ourselves and others, as well as safety, consent…and lots more. All of this is a part of comprehensive sexual education.

• Two main programs;Sexuality for All Abilities and The Power of Me


QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

•Type your question/comment into the chat box.•Send an anonymous question/comment through private chat to Kim Rossow or Jamie O’Conner with ANONYMOUS at the top.•We will have time at the end for open/un-muted conversation and questions.


Parent/Caregiver Support & Education

• Workshops & Webinars• Monthly Parent/Caregiver Support Calls -FREE• 1:1 Caregiver Support coach/consultation (fee)• Family Education Guide & education tools (fee)• Resource sharing • Access to special education experts• Other services for your child, school, program:

“Sexuality For All Abilities” curriculum for youth and for adults


AGREEMENTS

•This is a non-judgmental and safe space.•Participate at your own comfort level.•All questions, comments, ideas are welcome.•Take care of yourself – bathroom breaks, kiddo check-ins, etc.


CENTERING


THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

•Humans are sexual beings.•Sexual health conversations can bring up a range of emotions.•Sexuality education is a lifelong process.•None of us are perfect.


WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE USE THE TERM

SEXUALITY?


OUR HOPE FOR THIS CALL

•You will leave this call feeling a little more comfortable talking about this topic.

•You will leave with 1-2 tools or strategies to use with yourself, your children, or the people in your life – in person or virtually.


FOCUS QUESTION

What was your experience with sex ed growing up?

Did anyone in your family talk with you about sexuality?

Did you learn the most from friends, your family, or school?


HOW HAS SEXUAL EDUCATION FAILED PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES?

•Lack of education•Stranger Danger principle•Sex ed as abuse prevention•Reactive education (after something happened)•Hidden curriculum (what we are just “supposed”

to know)• Informal curriculum (what we learn from friends)


POLL and FOCUS QUESTION

On a scale of 1-10, how comfortable are you talking with your child/children about sexual health

1= not at all comfortable, 10=I’m an open book, ask me anything

What do you want your children to know about healthy sexuality and relationships?


Vision for our Children’s Future

PurposeJoy

DignityChoice


SELF-ADVOCACY & SELF-DETERMINATION

Self-advocacy is the extent to which a person has the ability to communicate for one’s self.

Self-determination requires an individual to make decisions about their own life. This includes skills such as: choice-making, decision-making, problem solving, goal setting, self-monitoring, leadership, resiliency and so much more.


TIPS FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS

• Keep it positive!• Teach appropriate terminology• Talk about puberty• Teach “rules”• Talk about body rights - “my body belongs to me”• Encourage assertiveness and appropriate

noncompliance• Teach how to tell• Repetition• Use teachable moments• Role-play appropriate/healthy scenarios


REFLECT

•What do you need to feel more comfortable talking about sexual health with your children?

•What are barriers are standing in your way?–Personal experience–Societal attitudes–Personal attitudes–Lack of knowledge–What else?


STEPS TO SUCCESS

•Talk to a professional; read books, •Talk openly with friends and partner(s) •Ensure caregivers in your child’s life know your approach to sexual health•Attend workshops and support calls•Practice having conversations about sexual health•Give your child the language they need to talk to you

SAMPLE ACTIVITIES AND STRATEGIES FOR SEXUAL HEALTH CONVERSATIONS


PEOPLE IN MY LIFE

Write down the names of the different people in your life in all 5 categories.

Note: in the Romantic Partner category it is important that BOTH people have knowledge and want that relationship


RELATIONSHIP CIRCLE

Write the names of the people in your life in the relationship circle.

Note: If a person is in my hug circle, it does not mean I have to give them a hug every time I see them.


CONSENT

Consent is when a person agrees to a certain activity or behavior.


BOUNDARIES

A boundary is a line that others cannot cross unless I say it’s okay.


SAFETY

Your body belongs to you. You get to say who touches it when and where. 1. Say No.2. Get away.3. Tell someone.

RESOURCES


FAMILY DISCUSSION

GUIDETopic 1: Healthy RelationshipsTopic 2: Safe and Healthy BoundariesTopic 3: Private and Public


PRIVATE VS. PUBLIC

Private Places/Behaviors Public Places/Behaviors


BOUNDARIES FLIP BOOKS


RED/GREEN CARDS

GREEN CARD

• Healthy• Okay• Appropriate• Safe • Expected• Comfortable• Go

DO NOT USE: yes, good

RED CARD

• Unhealthy• Not okay• Inappropriate• Unsafe• Unexpected• Uncomfortable• Stop

DO NOT USE: no, bad


SOCIAL STORIES


RESOURCES

● Sexualityforallabilities.com● Mad Hatter Wellness YouTube channel - videos on

sexual education● Amaze.org – videos on puberty, sexual orientation,

gender, safety, healthy relationships and more● NCIL Videos – sex ed videos for and by people with

I/DD● Scarleteen – sex ed resource for teens● Homeschool Sex Ed Resources through SIECUS

https://www.sexualityforallabilities.com

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1DQzNjxPU76qn9u8JqZo7OYOG_JOL4qC

https://amaze.org

https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCbtZWx7r6X4uTE1TbKAxrIAAx0_jiq2u&source=gmail&ust=1585233420328000&usg=AFQjCNG8Vmr4M3fy-zAkerJcFlq5Ov2oTA

https://www.scarleteen.com

https://siecus.org/homeschool-style-sex-ed-resources/


HOW WE CAN SUPPORT YOU!

•SFAA Newsletter – tips, tools, resources•FREE Monthly Parent/Caregiver Support Calls•Book: Sexuality for All Abilities: Teaching and Discussing Sexual Health in Special Education•Consulting/Parent Education•Virtual Conference

http://www.sexualityforallabilities.com

https://madhatterwellness.com/events/

https://madhatterwellness.com/product/sexuality-for-all-abilities-teaching-and-discussing-sexual-health-in-special-education-signed-copy/

https://madhatterwellness.com/product/keeping-relationships-healthy-kit-30-minute-zoom-support-call/

https://madhatterwellness.com/conference-2021/


REFLECT

On a scale of 1-10, how comfortable are you talking with your child/children about sexual health

1= not at all comfortable, 10=I’m an open book, ask me anything

•What is one idea or strategy you learned today that you want to try out with your children or family?•What concerns do you have about having conversations with your

children?•What are you excited or look forward to?•What questions do you have? What topics do you want more info

about?

QUESTIONS????

Mad Hatter Wellness envisions a world that provides and promotes

equitable health and wellness education for all people.


CONTACT US! ☺

Katie Thune

Katie@madhatterwellness.comwww.sexualityforallabilities.com651-216-2155

Kim Rossow, Parent/Caregiver Education [email protected]

“Like” Sexuality for All Abilities on FacebookFollow us on Instagram @madhatterwellnessFollow us on Twitter @madhatterwell

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.sexualityforallabilities.com

mailto:[email protected]

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