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Sexual Health Curriculum

Access and Instruction

Professional Development for Paraprofessionals

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Following this presentation, paraprofessionals will be able to:

  1. Describe the importance of access to health curriculum for all students
  2. Coordinate and communicate with special education teachers regarding upcoming sexual health unit(s) for students and communicate to case managers about students’ high risk behaviors
  3. Coordinate with special educators and health educators to implement accommodations and modifications congruent with the identified learning objectives
  4. Implement instructional plan as

directed by special education case manager or related service provider

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Objective #1:

The importance of access to health curriculum for all students.

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The Importance of Access to the Health Curriculum for ALL Students

Prevent abuse, prevent sexual crime or offense, develop healthy relationships, and ensure adult life success.

Connection to Student Success

Equity: All students have access to and learn from the health curriculum, especially sexuality education, per SSD and partner district Board policies.

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The Importance of Access to the Health Curriculum for ALL Students

Prevent abuse, prevent sexual crime or offense, develop healthy relationships, and ensure adult life success.

Connection to Student Success

Equity: All students have access to and learn from the health curriculum, especially sexuality education, per SSD and partner district Board policies.

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The rate of rape and sexual assault against people with intellectual disabilities is more than seven times the rate against people without disabilities.”

Normand, C.L &, Sallafranque-St-Louis. Cybervictimization of Young People With an Intellectual or Developmental Disability: Risks Specific to Sexual Solicitation. J Appl Res Intellect Disabil. 2016 Mar;29(2):99-110.

Valenti-Hein, D. & Schwartz, L. (1995). The Sexual Abuse Interview for Those with Developmental Disabilities James Stanfield Company. Santa Barbara: California

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“Among women with intellectual disabilities, it is about 12 times the rate.”

Normand, C.L &, Sallafranque-St-Louis. Cybervictimization of Young People With an Intellectual or Developmental Disability: Risks Specific to Sexual Solicitation. J Appl Res Intellect Disabil. 2016 Mar;29(2):99-110.

Valenti-Hein, D. & Schwartz, L. (1995). The Sexual Abuse Interview for Those with Developmental Disabilities James Stanfield Company. Santa Barbara: California

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More than ninety percent (90%) of people (both male and female) with developmental disabilities will experience sexual abuse at some point in their lives. Forty-nine percent (49%) will experience ten or more abuse incidents.

Normand, C.L &, Sallafranque-St-Louis. Cybervictimization of Young People With an Intellectual or Developmental Disability: Risks Specific to Sexual Solicitation. J Appl Res Intellect Disabil. 2016 Mar;29(2):99-110.

Valenti-Hein, D. & Schwartz, L. (1995). The Sexual Abuse Interview for Those with Developmental Disabilities James Stanfield Company. Santa Barbara: California

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Internet, social media, and cell phones are increasing this risk exponentially...

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Gowen, L. K., & Aue, N. (Eds.) (2011). Sexual Health Disparities Among Disenfranchised Youth. Public Health Division, Oregon Health Authority and Research and Training Center for Pathways to Positive Futures, Portland State University

Lack of access to

health curriculum

Higher numbers of unplanned pregnancies

and sexually transmitted infections (STI) rates in youth and adults with disabilities.

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Gowen, L. K., & Aue, N. (Eds.) (2011). Sexual Health Disparities Among Disenfranchised Youth. Public Health Division, Oregon Health Authority and Research and Training Center for Pathways to Positive Futures, Portland State University

Lack of or inadequate sexual health education

Youth and adults with disabilities being charged with sexual crimes/offenses/ harassment

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The Importance of Access to the Health Curriculum for ALL Students

Prevent abuse, prevent sexual crime or offense, develop healthy relationships, and ensure adult life success.

Commitment to students and their success.

Equity: All students have access to and learn from the health curriculum, especially sexuality education, per SSD and partner district Board policies.

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To achieve SSD’s mission and vision all curriculum and educational opportunities MUST be included in the planning and delivery of services and supports for all students.

Mission: To support and empower students of all learning abilities to excel to their greatest potential

Vision: All students realize their full potential in life and learning

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The Importance of Access to the Health Curriculum for ALL Students

Prevent abuse, prevent sexual crime or offense, develop healthy relationships, and ensure adult life success.

Connection to Student Success

Equity: All students have access to and learn from the health curriculum, especially sexuality education, per SSD and partner district Board policies.

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2

3

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SSDs Equity Statement:

Educational Equity exists when EACH STUDENT has opportunity and access to resources that focus on positive learning outcomes. This is achieved through an intentional focus on purposeful engagement, rigorous and individualized instruction, and relevant experiences.

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Access to Health Curriculum for ALL Students is CRITICAL

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Objective #2:

Coordinate and communicate with special education teachers regarding upcoming sexual health unit(s) for students and communicate to case managers about students’ high risk behaviors

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Use ongoing collaboration and communication processes established between the special education case manager and general education teacher, especially the health/PE teacher.

  • Review calendars and/or lesson plans
  • Identify when specific units, especially sexuality units, are being taught
  • Prompt the collaboration between general education and special education teachers

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Promote that all communication sent to general education students is sent home to all students -- especially students with disabilities

  • Use the established process for collecting information to send home

  • Use the established communication process to share information with:
    • General education teacher
    • Specialists
    • Other related service providers

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If you are seeing a high-risk behavior, communicate with the special education teacher immediately

High-risk behavior include, but are not limited to, things such as

  • Masturbation
  • Rubbing on surfaces
  • Non-consensual touching of others
  • Making sexual comments

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Objective #3:

Coordinate with special educators and health educators to implement accommodations and modifications congruent with the identified learning objectives

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How?

1. Become familiar with the student’s accommodation and modifications

2. Use the student’s accommodations and modifications

3.Provide feedback regarding the effectiveness of the accommodations and modifications

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Review the student’s profile sheet with the special education teacher and understand the content well enough to be able to implement accommodations / modifications

Student learning profile

    • Modifications and Accommodations
    • Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) or other behavior management information
    • Other helpful hints for engaging with student

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Provide feedback to both special education and general education teachers about effectiveness of accommodations and modifications

This might be a topic at regularly scheduled collaboration meetings.

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Ensure the students’ accommodations and modifications are being used and are aligned with the identified learning objectives

  • Don’t just give- explain the accommodations and modifications

  • Give examples of how to modify tasks, if needed

**NOTE: Who makes the accommodations/modifications? Paraprofessionals may create materials but the special educator is responsible for selecting accommodations/modifications

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Outcome #4:

Implement the instructional plan as directed by special education case manager or related service provider

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Use teacher-directed materials and resources

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Provide feedback to health teacher and the case manager if it seems replacement/ supplemental instructional methods or materials are necessary

  • Accommodations or modifications are not sufficiently ensuring access to curriculum

  • Sexualized behaviors are impeding overall learning

  • Student has risk factors suggesting need for more sensitivity or possibility of triggers (trauma, LGBTQ+, etc.)

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Following this presentation, paraprofessionals will be able to

  1. Describe the importance of access to health curriculum for all students

  • Coordinate and communicate with special education teachers regarding upcoming sexual health unit(s) for students and communicate to case managers about students’ high risk behaviors

  • Coordinate with special educators and health educators to implement accommodations and modifications congruent with the identified learning objectives

  • Implement instructional plan as directed by special education case manager or related service provider

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For more information, please contact the following SSD supports:

Professional Development

Division of Professional Learning: 314.989.7800

Curriculum

Office of Teaching, Learning and Accountability: 314.989.8517

Outsourcing Resources / Responding to Crises

SSD Health Services

314. 989.8247

Resources

Parent Education and Diversity Awareness 314.989.8460

Social Work Effective Practice Specialist: 314.989.8444

Research and Data-

DESE Resources: