Topics Archives - Elevatus Training

Four diverse adult friends, including a man with Down syndrome, laugh and talk together at an outdoor café table.

Sex Ed vs. Sexuality Education: Why the Words We Use Matter

Many people hear the words “sex ed” and assume the topic is sexual activity. That is one of the biggest misconceptions about sexuality education for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The act of sex is only one small part of sexuality. Most of what we teach is about relationships, communication, boundaries, consent, identity, and belonging. Those are the skills that reduce vulnerability to abuse and open up connection, confidence, and independence. Read more about: Sex Ed vs. Sexuality Education: Why the Words We Use Matter

Consent training for people with IDD as an adult self-advocate uses an AAC device to ask a direct support professional to wait.

Teaching Consent to People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: What Builds Real-Life Skills?

Consent is giving permission: saying yes, or agreeing to do something. Teaching it to people with I/DD rests on two ideas. There must be two yesses, and both must be freely chosen. Those skills grow through everyday practice, accessible communication, and supporters who ask before they act. Read more about: Teaching Consent to People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: What Builds Real-Life Skills?

Finding the Right Fit in Sexuality Education and Healthy Relationships Training

Healthy relationships and sexuality education continuously evolve. As such, we regularly update our products and materials based on feedback from our students and community. In this article, we offer an example and guidance on why it is crucial that educators/trainers continuously upgrade their content and teaching tools. Read more about: Finding the Right Fit in Sexuality Education and Healthy Relationships Training

A diverse group of adults, including people with disabilities, stand together smiling and talking in a warm, welcoming setting.

Do Autistic People Speak a Different Language?

Autistic people want love and partnership like anyone else, but communication differences can make dating feel like speaking a different language. Written from an autistic educator’s perspective, this article explains how literal interpretation, sensory and touch needs, and conflict styles play out in relationships, the real strengths autistic partners bring (honesty, reliability, loyalty), and how partners and sexuality educators can meet autistic people in the middle. Read more about: Do Autistic People Speak a Different Language?

A man with Down syndrome uses a thumbs-up to give consent when a friend asks to sit beside him at a café.

How to Teach Consent to People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Katherine McLaughlin shares a 3-step script for teaching consent to people with I/DD: help them believe their life, mind, and body are theirs to control, explore what they want to say yes or no to, then practice putting it into words. Read more about: How to Teach Consent to People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Is Asexuality Really a Thing? Isn’t it Actually a Disorder?

While presenting sexuality education training, these questions often surface when discussing sexual orientation. Many ask, “Is asexuality really a thing?” “Isn’t it more a symptom of a larger problem?” Read more about: Is Asexuality Really a Thing? Isn’t it Actually a Disorder?

Diverse group of adults with I/DD, including a man with Down syndrome, discusses relationships and online behavior in a peer-led workshop.

Victim or Offender? People with I/DD Accused of Sex Offending Behaviors

People with I/DD face the criminal justice system from both sides — far more likely to be victimized than their peers, and overrepresented among suspects and inmates. The reasons trace back to unaddressed trauma, exploitation by others, and a persistent lack of sexuality and relationship education. Comprehensive, accessible education is part of the fix. Read more about: Victim or Offender? People with I/DD Accused of Sex Offending Behaviors

Nothing About Us Without Us

I remember the day Karen Topper, Executive Director of Green Mountain Self Advocates, asked, “Can we create a sexuality education curriculum where people with developmental disabilities are teachers and are actively involved in creating this educational tool?” This startling statement pushed my thinking. My usual thoughts were that I and other professionals would create a curriculum, and we would be the teachers, not people with disabilities. And then, I started to imagine, and now, I ask you to imagine… Read more about: Nothing About Us Without Us

Has Pornography Become the “Go To” Sexuality Educator for Our Youth? Part 2

Respond, don’t react is a great strategy for dealing with anything unexpected …even pornography.

I remember having a conversation with my son about pornography when he was 17 years old. I was on our family computer and found porn. Upon seeing those images, all I could think was, does he think all partners want this? After gathering myself to have a conversation with him, I wanted to convey that many partners don’t want what you saw and to ask before doing anything with a partner. Read more about: Has Pornography Become the “Go To” Sexuality Educator for Our Youth? Part 2

Has Pornography Become the “Go To” Sexuality Educator for Our Youth? Part 1

Like it or not, agree with its availability or not, pornography has become the “go to” place for sexuality education and is here to stay.

This generation is known for using the internet to learn about a topic, particularly “how to” YouTube clips such as, how do I change my password on my phone? And how do I back up my data? For questions about sex, many are turning to internet pornography for answers as well. Read more about: Has Pornography Become the “Go To” Sexuality Educator for Our Youth? Part 1

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