Workshop description:

All people need full and accurate information about healthy relationships and sexuality. How do we ensure our sexuality education lessons meet the needs of all learners? This training will focus on bringing students with a range of disabilities into the learning circle when it comes to teaching sex ed. Training participants will learn the myths and facts of sex and disability, tips and strategies for creating an inclusive educational environment for students of all abilities, with a focus on students with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Objectives:

By the end of the training, participants will be able to:

• Identify 2 myths of sex and disability and their corresponding facts

• Identify at least 1 impact of being an exceptional learning in an inclusive classroom as it relates to sex ed.

• Practice 2 tips/strategies for teaching sex ed in an inclusive classroom

Presented at the 2019 National Sex Ed Conference

All people need full and accurate information about healthy relationships and sexuality. So, how do we ensure our sex ed lessons meet the needs of all learners? In this interactive training, participants will explore challenges for sex ed in special ed, and practice skills for adapting curricula and creating an inclusive sex ed environment for students of all abilities.

Workshop description:

Join us as we explore these cutting edge topics in more depth: 

• Anatomy 201- all the things you think you know, but maybe don't

• Intersex - more than just ambiguous genitalia

• Penis Inclusivity - why don't foreskins make the cut? 

• Virginity as a Social Construct - what's real, who says, and what's the impact?

This session aims to increase understanding of the various body parts used in reproduction and spark conversations around the values and norms of topics such as circumcision, virginity, and sexual pleasure.  Participants in this training will leave the session with practical take-aways they can apply to their work with youth.

Objectives:

By the end of the training, participants will be able to:

• List at least 2 reasons for medically accurate genital words

• Identify all body parts and glands involved in sexual response + reproduction

• Define what intersex is

• Discuss at least 2 myths surrounding the practice of masturbation

• Describe 2 purposes of the foreskin

• Explain 2 aspects of how virginity is a social construct

COVID19 created many barriers to the development of close, physical relationships. But COVID19 was not the catalyst for the disconnect many individuals have been experiencing. Research shows that the current generation, iGen, is one of the most disconnected, isolated, and lonely generations – which started long before COVID19. Given this, one question many ask is “How do I share myself with another person?” not just physically, but emotionally as well. This lecture and discussion will focus on how we can actively create intimacy with those around us, sharing ourselves while also creating space for others to feel comfortable to share themselves as well.

Workshop description:

Within sex education curricula, alongside the necessary health messaging, there are some shaming messages, and many teens are shamed by simply being excluded. All people need accurate and complete information about healthy relationships and sexuality. How do we ensure our sexuality education lessons meet the needs of all learners? This training will focus on who gets left out of sex ed and what that impact is on youth. Training participants will learn about who is excluded, the messages that shame students rather than creating safe space, and creating inclusive adaptations with fidelity.

Objectives:

By the end of the training, participants will be able to:

• Identify at least 2 shaming messages that exist in current curriculum

• Describe at least 1 impact of shaming messages on students

• Define & create at least 1 plan for implementing at least 1 adaptation to combat a shaming message

Lecture presented to the USMA Spectrum Cadets – “Spectrum, in accordance with the values and vision of the United States Military Academy, actively bridges the relationship between Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Questioning (LGBTQ) cadets and their allies while promoting the ideals of respect, community building, understanding, and support.” This lecture focused on the impact of HIV/AIDS within the queer community both historically and at present. This was followed by a discussion on the practices of safer sex and available resources for sexual health support.

Guest lecturer for USMA’s Music and Influence class. This lecture focused on the impact of music on sexual violence. Specifically, this class examined Robin Thicke’s Blurred Lines and the underlying connotations of both his lyrics and music video imagery. The Cadets participated in a discussion around their own observations, thoughts, and feelings related to music and sexual violence.

Lecture presented to the USMA Spectrum Cadets – “Spectrum, in accordance with the values and vision of the United States Military Academy, actively bridges the relationship between Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Questioning (LGBTQ) cadets and their allies while promoting the ideals of respect, community building, understanding, and support.” This lecture focused on healthy sexuality, covering aspects that may have not been covered in elementary and secondary educational spaces, specifically focused on needs unique to those on the LBGTQ+ spectrum.

Workshop description:

Covers the basic principles of sexuality and sex education for use in school or community settings. Small group discussion and skill building around how to support individuals with developmental disabilities in happy, healthy and safe relationships.

Objectives:

• Describe at least two circles of sexuality

• Compare sexual development at different stages of life

• Define at least two sexual identities other than heterosexual

• Demonstrate how to answer sexuality questions

• Choose based on the training track you chose:

  • Practice advocating for the rights of individuals with DD in sexual and romantic relationships

  • Practice adapting sex ed curricula to meet all learners’ needs

Workshop description:

The 8th annual training for school-based wellness center staff will give participants a deeper understanding of what the term “Toxic Masculinity” means, and the impact on youth’s emotional health. Speaking about toxic masculinity is not about vilifying anyone, including boys and men, or any particular qualities society has deemed “masculine.” Rather, this is an opportunity to begin to reconstruct a more positive model of masculinity that makes room for the many different ways to be a boy or man, and allows individuals to feel secure in their masculine identity, creating space for all people to access the supports they need, desire, and deserve. By attending this workshop, school-based wellness center staff will be able model positive displays of masculinity and support their youth in feeling secure in who they are, while creating safer spaces for youth to be themselves.

Objectives:

• Name at least one of their own gender-based biases, and describe the impact of that biased belief in how they have cared for students/clients/patients

• Identify at least 1 way society impacts gender expression

• Identify 3 media messages that feed into toxic masculinity and at least 1 way to counter these messages 

• Define masculinity 

• Demonstrate how they would support others in redefining masculinity

• Describe at least 2 ways of modeling positive masculinity

Workshop description:

Even though it is illegal for minors to purchase pornography, young people are very likely to encounter it before they become adults, both intentionally and unintentionally.  This training will focus on a variety of sources of sexually explicit media and how youth access them. Training participants will have the opportunity to analyze their own values around sexually explicit media along with the positive and problematic elements of pornography. Additional skill building will focus on how to teach and talk about pornography with youth without using shaming or blaming language.

Objectives:

By the end of the training, participants will be able to:

• Identify 3 commonly used sources of Sexually Explicit Media (SEM)

• Discuss the 3 most problematic elements of SEM

  • Unrealistic practices/behaviors

  • Lack of intimacy/consent conversations

  • Unrealistic body standards

• Examine personal values around SEM & discover at least 1 way to discuss the subject with youth without shame/blame language regardless of personal values

Workshop description:

Join us as we go beyond the basics of understanding transgender identities and issues. This workshop aims to increase knowledge of the differences between gender, orientation, behavior, and identity. With a focus on how to support individual youth, along with how to create safer spaces for youth to be fully self-expressed at the micro, mezzo, and macro level, participants in this training will leave the workshop with practical take-aways they can apply to their work. No prerequisites required.

Objectives:

By the end of the training, participants will be able to:

• Differentiate between Gender and Sex

• Define Intersex

• Clarify the difference between Orientation, Behavior, and Identity

• Identify at least 1 personal reaction to gender variations

• Identify at least 1 potential impact of media on public opinion regarding transgender folks

• Create one script for opening a gendered conversation