SEX AND RELATIONSHIPS EDUCATION: HOW CAN CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES BE A PART OF IT?

Konstantina Spyropoulou

Abstract


Reflection constitutes a way of turning our experience into learning. A reflective journal will successfully link the theory with personal experience through an interactive interpretation of reflected knowledge. My background experience as a trainee teacher for a boy with mild learning disabilities in my placement was about an incident related to Sex and Relationships. This occurrence constituted the starting point of my personal learning experience. Knowledge is the “weapon” you can use to overcome any barriers and evaluate actions and relationships. This essay focuses on the sexuality and the provision of Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) that children with Learning Disabilities (LD) receive in countries around the world and the objectives of SRE. Moreover, children with LD, through the benefits of adequate education, can recognise their sexual identity, fight for their needs and rights and eliminate undesirable consequences. Lastly, this assignment will support my professional practice that will not only try to ameliorate children’s educational lives but also empower my teaching skills in any similar situation in the future.

Article visualizations:

Hit counter


Keywords


reflective journal, experiential learning, aims and provision of SRE, learning disabilities, sexual abuse

Full Text:

PDF

References


Aderemi, T. (2014). Teachers’ Perspectives on Sexuality and Sexuality Education of Learners with Intellectual Disabilities in Nigeria. Sexuality and Disability 32(3): pp.247-258.

Ailey, S. H., Marks B. A., Crisp C. and Hahn J. E. (2003). Promoting sexuality across the life span for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Nursing Clinics North America 38(2): pp.229-252.

Barboudi, E. (2012). Sexuality and sex education of people with autism or/and learning disabilities. A pilot survey for parents. Dissertation. University of Macedonia.

Bassot, B. (2013). The Reflective Journal. Capturing your learning for personal and professional development. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan.

Bennett, D. and Bauman, A. (2000). Adolescent mental health and risky sexual behaviour. BMJ 321(7256): pp.251-252.

Bernert, D. and Ogletree, R. (2013). Women with intellectual disabilities talk about their perceptions of sex. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research 57(3): pp.240-249.

Biddulph, M. (2012). Sexualities and citizenship education. In: Arthur, J. & Cremin, H. (Eds.) Debates in Citizenship Education, p.100-114. London & New York: Routledge.

Blake, S. and Laxton, J. (1997). Strides: A Practical Guide to Sex and Relationships Education with Young Men. London: fpa.

Boehning, A. (2006). Sex Education for students with disabilities. Law and Disorder (1): pp.59-66.

British Educational Research Association (BERA) (2001). Ethical Guidelines for Educational Research. Available at: https://www.bera.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/BERA-Ethical-Guidelines-2011.pdf?noredirect=1 [Accessed 11 April 2016].

Carlson, G., Taylor M. and Wilson J. (2000). Sterilisation, drugs which suppress sexual drive, and young men who have intellectual disability. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability 25(2): pp.91-104.

Gomez, M. (2012). The S Words: Sexuality, Sensuality, Sexual Expression and People with Intellectual Disability. Sexuality and Disability 30: pp.237-245.

Carter, J. (1999). Sexuality Education for Students with Specific Learning Disabilities. Intervention in School and Clinic 34(4): pp.220-223.

Craft, A., Stewart, D., Mallett, A., Martin, D. and Tomlinson, S. (1996). Sex education for students with severe learning difficulties. Health Education 96(6): pp.11-18.

Department of Health (2001). Valuing People - A New Strategy for Learning Disability for the 21st Century. Cmnd 5086. GOV.UK.

Eastgate, G., Van Driel, L. M., Lennox, N. and Scheermeyer, E. (2011). Women with intellectual disabilities: A study of sexuality, sexual abuse and protection skills. Australian Family Physician 40(4): pp.226-230.

Fitzgerald, C. and Withers, P. (2011). ‘I don’t know what a proper woman means’: what women with intellectual disabilities think about sex, sexuality and themselves. British Journal of Learning Disabilities 41(1): pp.5-12.

Garbutt, R., Tattersall, J., Dunn, J. and Boycott-Garnett, R. (2009). Accessible article: involving people with learning disabilities in research. British Journal of Learning Disabilities 38(1): pp.21-34.

Gougeon, N. (2009). Sexuality education for students with intellectual disabilities, a critical pedagogical approach: outing the ignored curriculum. Sex Education 9(3): pp.277-291.

Grieveo, A., McLaren, S. and Lindsay, W. (2006). An evaluation of research and training resources for the sex education of people with moderate to severe learning disabilities. British Journal of Learning Disabilities 35(1): pp.30-37.

Hamilton, C. A. (2009). Now I’d like to sleep with Rachael’—researching sexuality support in a service agency group home. Disability and Society 24(3): pp. 303–315.

Hayashi, M., Arakida, M. and Ohashi, K. (2011). The effectiveness of a sex education program facilitating social skills for people with intellectual disability in Japan. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability 36(1): pp.11-19.

Healy, E., McGuire, B., Evans, D. and Carley, S. (2009). Sexuality and personal relationships for people with an intellectual disability. Part I: service-user perspectives. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research 53(11): pp.905-912.

Hubbs, D. and Brand, C. (2005). The Paper Mirror: Understanding Reflective Journaling. Journal of Experiential Education, 28(1): pp.60-71.

Karamanou, C., Petini, T. C. and Roussa, G. (2013). Learning Disabilities, Downs Syndrome and Social Impact. Dissertation. TEI of Ipiros.

Katoda, H. (1993). Parents' and teachers' praxes of and attitudes to the health and sex education of young people with mental handicaps: a study in Stockholm and Tokyo. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research 37(2): pp.115-129.

Katz, G. and Lazcano-Ponce, E. (2008). Sexuality in subjects with intellectual disability: an educational intervention proposal for parents and counselors in developing countries. Salud pública de México 50(2): pp.s239-s254.

Kempton, W. and Kahn, E. (1991). Sexuality and people with intellectual disabilities: a historical perspective. Sexuality and Disability 9(2): pp.93-111.

Kolb, D. A. (1981). Learning styles and disciplinary differences. The modern American college pp.232-255.

Kolb, D. A. (1984). Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development (Vol. 1). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

Kupper, L. (1994). Teaching children and youth about sexuality. National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities News Digest (1): pp.9–12.

Lafferty, A., McConkey, R. and Simpson, A. (2012). Reducing the barriers to relationships and sexuality education for persons with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities 16(1): pp.29-43.

Lyons, J. (1999). Reflective education for professional practice: discovering knowledge from experience. Nurse Education Today, 19(1): pp.29-34.

Measor, L., Tiffin, C. and Miller, K. (2000). Young Peoples’ Views on Sex Education. Education, Attitudes and Behaviour. Routledge/Falmer, London.

Moon, J. A. (2006). Learning Journals. A handbook for reflective practice and professional development. 2nd ed. New York: Routledge.

Northway, R., Bennett, D., Melsome, M., Flood, S., Howarth, J. and Jones, R. (2013). Keeping Safe and Providing Support: A Participatory Survey About Abuse and People with Intellectual Disabilities. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities 10(3): pp.236-244.

Parker, R., Wellings, K. and Lazarus, J. (2009). Sexuality education in Europe: an overview of current policies. Sex Education 9(3): pp.227-242.

Roffey, S. (2011). The power of positive relationships. In: Roffey, S. Changing behaviour in schools: promoting positive behavior and wellbeing, pp.100-119. London: Sage.

Schaafsma, D., Kok, G., Stoffelen, J. and Curfs, L. (2014). Identifying Effective Methods for Teaching Sex Education to Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review. The Journal of Sex Research 52(4): pp.412-432.

Schaafsma, D., Kok, G., Stoffelen, J., van Doorn, P. and Curfs, L. (2014). Identifying the important factors associated with teaching sex education to people with intellectual disability: A cross-sectional survey among paid care staff. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability 39(2): pp.157-166.

Sequeira, H. (2006). Implications for practice: research into the effects of sexual abuse on adults with intellectual disabilities Journal of Adult Protection 8(4): pp.25-30.

Sex Education Forum (2001). Ensuring entitlement: Sex and relationships education for disabled children. Available at: http://www.ncb.org.uk/media/229350/ensuring_entitlement_-_sex_and_relationships_education_for_disabled_children.pdf [Accessed 7 May 2016].

Sex Education Forum (2003). Factsheet 30: Sex and Relationships Education Framework.

Sex Education Forum (2004). Factsheet 32: Sex and relationships education for children and young people with learning difficulties.

Smith, K., Wheeler, B., Pilecki, P. and Parker, T. (1995). The role of the pediatric nurse practitioner in educating teens with mental retardation about sex. Journal of Pediatric Health Care 9(2): pp.59-66.

Swango-Wilson, A. (2008). Caregiver perceptions and implications for Sex Education for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Sexuality and Disability 26: pp.167- 174.

The Children's Learning Disability Nursing Team (2009). Puberty and Sexuality for children and young people with a learning disability [online]. Department of Health: NHS Leeds. Available at: http://www.leeds.gov.uk/docs/Puberty-and-Sexuality-Pack-Session1-4.pdf [Accessed 05 June 2016].

Tsinos, D. (2011). Learning Disabilities under the spectrum of counseling. Dissertation. TEI of Ioannina.

Van Dyke, D. C., McBrien, D. M., Siddiqi, S., and Petersen, M. C. (1998). Sexuality in Individuals with Down Syndrome. In: Rondal, J. A., Perera, J., and Nadel, L. (Eds) Down Syndrome: A Review of Current Knowledge, pp.33-47. London: Whurr.

Vygotsky, L. (1986). Thought and Language. (Rev.ed.). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press

Wolfe, P. and Blanchett, W. (2003). Sex Education for Students with Disabilities. Teaching Exceptional Children 36(1): pp.46-51.

Yonge, O. and Myrick, F. (2000). The journaling assignment: Issues and paradoxes. Available at: http://www.stlhe.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/The-Journalling-Assignment.pdf [Accessed 10 April 2016].




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejse.v6i4.3489

Copyright © 2015 - 2023. European Journal of Special Education Research (ISSN 2501 - 2428) is a registered trademark of Open Access Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

This journal is a serial publication uniquely identified by an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) serial number certificate issued by Romanian National Library (Biblioteca Nationala a Romaniei). All the research works are uniquely identified by a CrossRef DOI digital object identifier supplied by indexing and repository platforms.

All the research works published on this journal are meeting the Open Access Publishing requirements and can be freely accessed, shared, modified, distributed and used in educational, commercial and non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).