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LovABLE

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LovABLE

Sex education for children with disabilities in early age school

AIM

Τhe project “LovABLE: Sex education for children with disabilities in early age school” aims to promote the inclusion of disabled children in the important pedagogical education about human anatomy, human rights and self-awareness, healthy emotional relations and responsibilities, concent, hygiene, privacy, safety, sexuality along its development and issues of disability. Although sex education is becoming a part of the curriculum in most schools in the EU, less has been done for adapting and considering related issues for disabled children especially in early-childhood. A study by Montclair State University (Goldfarb, 2020) reveals that comprehensive sex education should begin as early as kindergarten. This can prevent child sex abuse and intimate partner violence, increase appreciation for sexual diversity and improve environments for LGBTQ students. It can also lead to improved self-protective skills, improved knowledge of appropriate/inappropriate touching and increased parent-child communication.

THE IDEA BEHIND THE PROJECT

The main target group of the LovABLE project, are disabled children in their early childhood who have equal rights to receive high quality sex education. According to Dr. G. Joel sexuality is a core aspect of human beings involving various physical, cognitive, emotional and social aspects. Even though children with disabilities undergo the same physical aspects of sexual development as their non-disabled peers, the opportunities for them to learn about it from their family or peers are decreased. This often results in phenomena of awkward sexual behaviour in public, phenomena of sexual violence, traumatic and unhealthy relations, criminality in digital world, sexual harassment etc. Several studies have reported that children with disabilities are more than twice as likely to be sexually abused than children without disabilities. Moreover caregivers can sometimes be over-protective and don’t let them make decisions for themselves (eg. even for haircuts). In addition, their dependence on others for intimate care can make them lose a sense of ownership over their own bodies and violate their right to self-determination.

Children are taught from a young age to comply and don’t say “no” which increases even more the possibilities to experience abuse. Parents often feel awkward discussing sexuality with their child and turn to teachers who should also make a step out of their comfort zones and prepare to overcome any hindrances or discomfort in teaching and having discussions on sexuality. Especially when they lack the proper training or material. According to UNESCO’s Strategy on Education for Health and Wellbeing, all children have the right to be provided with high quality education and pedagogical support along their individual path to explore their own sexuality and body. This increases the correct knowledge, the positive attitudes and values and develops skills to make informed choices. Moreover it helps in building healthy emotional relationships, being able to identify and keep away from dangerous situations. In particular disabled children have the right to get specialised education for issues of sexuality that may relate to their disability.

Our project “LovAble” aims to provide specialised and quality sex education to disabled children in early childhood through games, storytelling and hands-on activities, to make them Able to give and receive the “Love” they deserve by building healthy relationships in the future avoiding unsafe and traumatic situations.

OBJECTIVES

Develop and apply high quality early childhood sex education for disabled children

Support teachers of disabled children with material and methodologies for introducing early childhood sex education in their lessons and everyday practices

Increase the inclusion of disabled children in sex education

TARGET GROUPS

Teachers or other professionals working with disabled children in early childhood

Parents, Parents' associations relatives, carers and in general all the persons close to a disabled child

School leaders, school policy makers, and relevant public and private organisations(including ministries of education, directorates of education) across Europe

Associated partners/organisations and institutions dealing with education and care of disabled children

RESULTS

Development of LovAble methodology targeting teachers, professionals working with children with disabilities and relevant professionals on how to educate them about sex and sexuality

Implementation of a learning training activity for teachers, professionals working with children with disabilities and relevant professionals for upskilling their skills on LovAble methodology and guidelines

Implementation of Local workshops with school community (parents, teachers, professionals, carers etc)

Implementation of Local pilot non-formal/ formal education activities – workshops with children with disabilities

LovAble events that will promote the methodology of the project and its results

PARTNERS

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