Historically, people with disabilities have been viewed as asexual and deviant. This viewpoint is not surprising given the societal exclusion and marginalization experienced by this group. For too long, adults with IDD have been denied life experiences that are afforded to the non-disabled population including having intimate relationships and developing a healthy sexuality. Like most adults, people with disabilities want to establish intimate relationships and be engaged in sexual activities, state laws require that both parties be consenting when sexual interactions occur. 

This workshop will offer a unique opportunity for professionals to learn practical strategies for supporting people with IDD and other disabilities in exploring, learning, and expressing and advocating re social-sexual issues. Using a strength-based approach, our expert will share valuable insights that will address negative mindsets and dispel myths. Attendees will receive training on conducting sexual consent assessments and obtain critical skills needed as a social sexual educator. This workshop will focus on a number of skill areas that can be used in clinical practice, the classroom, a person’s home, and an agency at large. Skills learned will help attendees to better support people with disabilities and families in making informed decisions about social/sexual issues and enrich their quality of life.

This workshop examines the social, cultural, political, and symbolic constructions of the intersecting categories of social-sexual issues and disability. We will explore how disability is gendered; gender is disabled; and both are interwoven with issues of race, class, sexuality, and nationality. Attendees will explore the relationship between social sexual issues such as body image, media representation, dating, marriage, the right to have children, laws and education and disability. Disability in this course is defined widely, to include physical, mobility, sensory, learning, and cognitive disabilities, as well as chronic illnesses, mental health and mental/emotional differences—all the ways in which a person’s body or mind may be perceived and experienced as different from the “norm.”

Consuelo Senior, LMSW has 19 years of experience working in the field of IDD and mental health. She is currently the Assistant Coordinator of Sex Education at YAI and as a trainer; she has developed curricula for a wide range of topics of importance to the disability field. She has also been providing sex education for 16 years to both staff and people with disabilities and practices both group and individual psychotherapy. Consuelo is an adjunct lecturer at City College of New York, where she teaches disability courses. Consuelo is also a representative for YAI at the UN’s Economic and Social Council.

6 CE Contact Hours

REFUND REQUESTS:

All refund requests must be submitted by email to workshops@naswnyc.org . Valid requests must be received no later than five days prior to course date. 

All refunds are subject to a $20.00 administrative processing fee. Credit cannot be issued toward a future program date or substituted for another workshop. Refund requests typically require 1-2 weeks processing time.