Relationships, Sexuality and Autism - NCSE

EVENT DETAILS

Online Virtual Classroom (Adobe Connect)

EVENT INFORMATION

A one-day seminar for teachers working with autistic students. It provides information proactive and reactive strategies to support students understanding of relationships sexuality education (RSE).

EVENT DESCRIPTION

The Autism Good Practice Guidelines (DE,2022) will be used in this seminar.

Anticipated Outcomes
Participants will:
- Information on proactive strategies and their importance in understanding RSE for autistic students.
- Gain an understanding of the difference between sexual and sexualised behaviours.
- Using autism specific strategies to teach RSE
- Information on the importance of relationships between parents, teachers and professionals to create
- Have an awareness of how values and beliefs may affect delivery of relationship and sexuality education.
- Gain an understanding of how to support individuals during instances of sexually inappropriate behaviour (reactive strategies), as well as strategies to assist young people before sexually inappropriate behaviours are displayed (proactive strategies)
- Using the Autism Good Practice Guidance to inform preparation for teaching and learning and planning
- Gain an understanding of how autistic young people may be vulnerable to abuse, particularly when they are online
- Discuss how to develop an autism specific sexuality and relationships education for their organisation

Seminar Outline and Content
This seminar will emphasise that the physical and sexual development for autistic students is like the development of their neurotypical peers; but they may lack the social know-how necessary for managing their personal needs.

Consequently, they may be vulnerable to abuse or may display sexually behaviours of concern.

Participants will be supported to consider autism and the needs of students.

Resources and planning will be provided to enable teachers to meet the needs of their students.

Participants can take part in discussion to further their understanding of appropriate RSE for their students.

This seminar will be divided into three modules:
Module 1: Understanding Autism and meeting the needs of students with proactive and reactive strategies Module 2: Resources planning Autism specific RSE
Module 3: Facilitated discussion

An NCSE Certificate of Attendance is available to participants. Participants will require permission from their Board of Management to attend. Typically, substitution for this full-day professional learning experience will only be allowed: to class and subject teachers and if it is deemed essential by the principal.