Educational Needs of Sexual Health Educators

Speak Up Project 2004

Sample Topics

Educators may need information on a range of topics relating to sexuality, sexual abuse, and communication for adults and youth who use AAC.

1. Sexuality and Disability:
   • Background information to increase awareness of stereotypes (i.e.) myths that define people as asexual, helpless, damaged, inhuman, etc.
   • Information on the social impact of living with a disability and the need for sexual health information in later stages of life.
   • Awareness of possibilities for adapting sexual practices, devices, and contraception for accessibility.
   • Avenues for sexual expression (i.e. access to sexual assistance.)
   • Risk factors for sexual and other forms of abuse.
   
   
2. Communication:
   • Communication Disabilities
   • Impact of communication disabilities on sexuality.
   • AAC systems available.
   • Need for communication facilitation/interpretation.
   • Working with an AAC user.
   • How to communicate with an AAC user.
   
   
3. Considerations when providing sexual health services to a person who uses AAC:
   • Confidentiality when communicating with client supports (i.e.) family, attendant services, etc.
   • Privacy concerns with respect to client accessing resources at home (i.e.) books, pamphlets, videos, etc. related to sexuality.
   • Power dynamics prevalent in the lives of AAC users with respect to family and attendant services.
   
   
4. Agency practices to accommodate the needs of people who use AAC (i.e. physical and communication accessibility of services.)

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