Sexuality For All Abilities

This essential manual helps educators comfortably and knowledgeably bring comprehensive sex education to the special education classroom. Drawing on firsthand experience and real-world examples, the first half provides background material—including common roadblocks—and tools for how to effectively partner with parents. The second half breaks down the how-tos of implementing a successful sex education program and troubleshoots tricky situations that might come up in the special education classroom. Written in accessible, person-first language, this guide equips you with best practices for providing students with developmental disabilities with the knowledge and tools to engage in healthy relationships and live full lives as self-advocating sexual beings.

Through her original curriculum, Me Too!TM, Dr. Podgurski's focus is empowerment, independence, and enhanced communication for individuals and their families in the sensitive area of sexuality. Dr. Podgurski believes that information about sexual health is a basic human right and should be available for people of all abilities. Me Too!TM, approaches sexuality education in a body-positive, non-threatening manner employing learning activities that are geared for a wide range of learners. Individuals living with intellectual disability, Asperger's syndrome, or autism respond to different teaching modalities. Me Too!TM, strives to provide tools and techniques applicable for people of all abilities.

This open access edited volume explores physical disability and sexuality in South Africa, drawing on past studies, new research conducted by the editors, and first-person narratives from people with physical disabilities in the country. Sexuality has long been a site of oppression and discrimination for people with disabilities based on myths and misconceptions, and this book explores how these play out for people with physical disabilities in the South African setting. One myth with which the book is centrally concerned, is that people with disabilities are unable to have sex, or are seen as lacking sexuality by society at large. Societal understandings of masculinity, femininity, bodies and attractiveness, often lead people with physical disabilities to be seen as being undesirable romantic or sexual partners. The contributions in this volume explore how these prevailing social conditions impact on the access to sexual and reproductive healthcare, involvement in romantic relationships, childbearing, and sexual citizenship as a whole, of people with physical disabilities in the Western Cape of the country. The authors' research, and first person contributions by people with physical disabilities themselves, suggest that education and public health policy must change, if the sexual and reproductive health rights and full inclusion of people with disabilities are to be achieved.

This collection brings together scholars and artists in disability studies, sexuality, queer theory, and feminism, to show how much sexuality studies and disability studies have to learn from each other.

Key social and emotional milestones during adolescence are often directly related to the abilities to initiate and maintain intimate relationships, maintain physically maturing bodies, and manage personal sexuality. Most adolescents with developmental disabilities have particular difficulty expressing sexuality in satisfying ways, consequently facing issues such as limited intimate relationships, low self-esteem, increased social isolation, deregulated emotional maintenance, reduced sexual functioning, and limited sexual health. Appropriate sexual knowledge assists not only in achieving personal fulfillment, but protection from mistreatment, abuse, unplanned pregnancies, or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). It also works to help solve problems of loneliness and problems with self-esteem. This book will address this but also much more. Issues of physical and cognitive development will be discussed, including appropriate sexual development/urges and brain development, and innate similarities and differences of sexuality that could occur between people with autism spectrum disorders and intellectual or developmental disabilities, including the complexities of physical disabilities. The authors will also consider special considerations for group homes and recreational facilities, and specifically focus on concepts of ethics and models of consent (medical, legal, social, and educational), as well as how to deal with uncertainty.

"A really important influence in my and many others road back to physical and mental health during and post cancer treatment. Without Tess' support who knows where we'd be." Steve, cancer survivor "This book is an absolute game changer. Practical, clear, accessible guidance. I already love introducing Tess' work to couples craving re-connection post cancer treatment, and now I have this go-to instructional guide." Victoria Cullen, founder of A Touchy Subject "Your impact on others suffering is just so profound. Love you for that Tess. Thank you!" SJ, cancer survivor Impacted sexuality from cancer treatments is one of the most common challenges people face, yet is one of the most under-addressed. Cancer treatments can impact all aspects of our lives, so why is no one talking about the more 'intimate' struggles we face? If you've received a cancer diagnosis, or are the loved one of someone who has, this book offers support and solutions to recover and increase connection, intimacy & sexuality, during and after treatments. Jam-packed with fun activities and easy-to-do strategies for how to improve things like; low libido, changes in body image and body confidence, when things are 'dry & sore', dating, the more direct side-effects treatments can have on our body and ways to heal and work around them like pain, fatigue, when sex hurts, drops in sex-drive and so, so much more. This book is a must-have for anyone impacted by cancer who may need support, because we all deserve love and connection. Written by a sexuality clinician and educator, who's also had cancer, this book is filled with practical information and ways you can reconnect with yourself and/or a partner, from someone who's literally been there. With down to Earth humour mixed in with a dash of neuroscience, Tess offers a positive path to your intimacy recovery, so what you thought was sexually impossible, becomes possible.

This simple, easy to read, 100 page guidebook helps family members, friends, and caregivers to better understand the changes that come with advancing dementia or other impairments in thinking, reasoning or processing information. It also reinforces the impact of Teepa Snow's guidance and person-centered care interventions including the GEMS and Positive Approach to Care techniques. The goal is to provide better support and care practices when someone is living with an ever-changing condition. By appreciating what has changed but leveraging what is still possible, care partners can choose interactions that are more positive, communication that is more productive, and care that is more effective and less challenging for all involved.