Empowering Youth with Disabilities Through Sexual Health Education | Think Inclusive Podcast

About the Guest(s):

Connie Senior is an Assistant Director and Project Manager for Project SHINE at YAI. She has over 27 years of experience in neurodevelopmental disabilities and mental health. With extensive experience advocating for and supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), Connie plays a crucial role in developing resources for this community. Her work focuses on bridging gaps in education and providing individuals with IDD the tools they need for personal empowerment, particularly in realms like sexual health education.

Breon Williams is a Project SHINE Youth Ambassador who is committed to educating and raising awareness about SHINE’s sexual health toolkit for youth with disabilities. Drawing from his personal experiences as a young man with I/DD, he connects meaningfully with both youth and families, fostering open and inclusive conversations. Williams earned a general diploma in high school and pursued two years of college. Like many young people with disabilities, he initially felt uneasy discussing sexual health. However, through his journey of self-empowerment, Williams has overcome these challenges and now strives to help others gain confidence in having these important conversations.

Episode Summary:

In a thought-provoking episode of the Think Inclusive Podcast, host Tim Villegas from the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education converses with Connie Senior and Breon Williams about an essential initiative called Project SHINE. This project, developed by YAI in collaboration with Planned Parenthood and other agencies, is crafted to bridge substantial gaps in sexual health education for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). They delve into the substantial impacts this project has had, alongside the newly launched resource: Your Sexual Health Toolkit, a comprehensive and navigable platform aimed at empowering individuals with IDD.

The episode primarily sheds light on the necessity and impact of providing dedicated, accessible sexual health education to individuals with IDD. Connie discusses how Project SHINE addresses the lack of sexual education in schools and its necessary adaptation to suit different learning needs, effectively preventing abuse and promoting informed personal choices. Meanwhile, youth ambassador Breon shares his personal experiences in promoting the toolkit, explaining how it has broadened his understanding and helped educate family members. They also discuss educators' roles in promoting these resources and ensuring they are integrated into learning programs to support students with IDD holistically.

Timestamps:
0:03 Empowering Youth With Disabilities Through Project SHINE
5:55 The Importance of Sex Education for Intellectual Disabilities
7:39 Empowering Youth with Disabilities Through Sexual Education
10:15 Empowering Sexual Education for People with Disabilities
19:34 Empowering Sexual Health Education Through Comprehensive Toolkits
26:13 Acts of Kindness from Strangers During Everyday Situations
29:11 Discussing Sexual Health Toolkit on Think Inclusive Podcast

Key Takeaways:
-Bridging Educational Gaps: Project SHINE aims to fill in the existing gaps in sexual health education for youth with IDD, ensuring they have the knowledge needed for personal safety and advocacy.
-Comprehensive Resources: Your Sexual Health Toolkit is an accessible, user-friendly resource designed to cater to individuals with IDD, featuring tools like glossaries, videos, and interactive games.
-Empowerment Through Education: Proper sexual health education empowers individuals with IDD to make informed choices, report abuse, and maintain body autonomy.
-Importance of Advocacy: Youth Ambassadors like Breon Williams are integral in spreading awareness about the toolkit and bridging the information gap within communities.
-Collaborative Efforts: The initiative underscores the need for collaboration among families, caregivers, and educational institutions to effectively deliver and promote inclusive education.

Resources:
Your Sexual Health Toolkit: https://yoursexualhealthtoolkit.org
Thank you to our sponsor, IXL. https://www.ixl.com/inclusive

Complete Show Notes + Transcript: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/empowering-youth-with-disabilities-through-sexual-health-education/

Видео Empowering Youth with Disabilities Through Sexual Health Education | Think Inclusive Podcast канала Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education