Each year, the TASH Conference brings together our constituents to share resources and success stories, learn about field-driven best practices, and network within a community engaged in shared values. The Conference is attended by passionate leaders, experts, and advocates from every corner of the disability community. Conference attendees are influential in their fields and communities, and play an important role in the provision of services and supports for the millions of individuals and organizations around the world; and include professors and researchers from leading institutions; those involved in local, state, and federal governments and public policy; special and general educators, and school administrators; self-advocates, adult service providers; students, family members, and many others. This year’s conference theme, Building Diverse and Inclusive Communities, reminds us that equity, opportunity, and inclusion relies on the input of broad perspectives and experiences.
Sexuality is a fundamental part of being human, and sexual development begins at birth and continues throughout our lives. Individuals with developmental disabilities deserve to obtain knowledge about their physical, emotional, and social development regarding sexuality, and have the freedom to learn about these things in an atmosphere that is non-judgmental, free of fear, shame, and exploitation. Caregivers struggle with discussing the topic but also with how to present the information in a way that the person with developmental disability will understand. Thus, it is necessary to empower caregivers, so they can empower the people they care for. Participants in this training will: Increase knowledge about how messages impact sexuality; Increase knowledge about how disability impacts sexual development; Examine how the values professionals and caregivers have impact our ability to discuss sexuality with people with disabilities; Review effective ways to answer questions about sexuality & techniques in responding to behaviors; and Increase knowledge about techniques to support sexuality of people with developmental disabilities. This session will provide participants with an overview of the collaborative initiative between Team Dynamics, LLC and the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council to address abuse and exploitation of people with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
Sharon Delvisco has over 30 years of experience planning meetings, conferences, facilitating retreats, providing training and education. She is currently employed as an Event Planning Associate and Project Director for Team Dynamics, LLC in Louisiana. She has received the Mentorship... Read More →
Friday December 6, 2019 9:45am - 10:35am MST
Meeting Room: Horse5594 West Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 85226
People with developmental disabilities are often left out of the conversation about sexuality, almost as if they are incapable of having thoughts, feelings, and needs. In reality, they, too, are sexual beings that need information and skills for making healthy decisions about sexuality. One of these skills in the ability to be a sexual self-advocate. As defined by Green Mountain Self Advocates, "Sexual Self Advocacy" means: "Speaking up for yourself, sexually"; "Getting information"; "Taking a stand"; "Saying to whomever: 'this is my choice'" "Stating your sexual limits and desires with your partner, respecting others' limits and desires"; and "Starting to do what you want with relationships." During this workshop, self-advocates will learn what is sexual self-advocacy, explore ways you can become a sexual self-advocate, and practice speaking up for the right to be in a relationship and for your rights within a relationship. This workshop aligns with the 2019 conference theme, Building Diverse and Inclusive Communities, by providing self-advocates with knowledge and skills to have happy, healthy relationship. Having the skills to be in relationships enriches our lives and makes inclusion possible. Diversity is addressed in the definition of sexual self-advocacy through the appreciation of all sexual orientations and gender identities as well as supporting all people with disabilities to be thought of as sexual beings from birth to death. It will empower individuals with I/DD to know their rights regarding relationships and within a relationship. It is a human right to be in relationships that are positive, enriching and not abusive.
Although there are vast benefits of experiencing healthy intimate relationships in adulthood (Beckes & Coan, 2011; Cacioppo & Patrick, 2008; Moos, 2003; Robles, 2014), adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are often denied these experiences (English et al., 2018; Fulford & Cobigo, 2018). This can often be due to restrictions placed on them from parents and other caregivers (Black & Kammes, 2019). However, these restrictions do not deter adults with ID from desiring intimate relationship experiences, leading to many of them engaging in secretive and often exploitative relationships (Black & Kammes, 2019; English et al., 2018). Despite this known pattern, there is still a gap in our understanding of the role parents/caregivers specifically play in their adult child's experiences of intimate relationships. This study used a systems theory and social model of disability approach to examine the role that parents/caregivers play in the creation and maintenance of intimate relationships for adults with IDD. This was done by asking parents who have an adult child with IDD, as well as a typically developing (TD) adult child, to compare their experiences between these two adult children. A mixed methods design including an online survey with 50 parents nationwide, as well as follow-up phone/video conferencing interviews with a subset of 20 parents was used. The findings of this study exhibit 5 main themes: 1) differing levels of parental involvement; 2) differing parental expectations; 3) differing parental roles; 4) parents as "gatekeepers"Âť for intimate experiences of individuals with ID; and 5) barriers to romantic relationships for individuals with ID. This presentation will discuss the key findings of the current study and provide important implications of the study for adults with IDD, their parents/caregivers, and others who work with them. Further information on defining and working with couples with IDD will also be presented.
