Educational and Training Service

RUA One Day Introductory Workshop

This workshop is designed to support staff and carers understand the key areas to think about when supporting a person with an intellectual disability to live as a sexual person and have friends and relationships.

Topics covered include:

• Identity, friendships, relationships for people with disability
• Introducing Hi 5 - a framework to work from:
  - The Legal Context in Ireland
  - Declaration of Rights for People with Disabilities
  - Capacity and Consent
  - Health and Safety
  - Values and Faith
  
• The PLISSIT model
• Policies for Best Practice

The workshop provides opportunities for participants to collaborate and work together in an experiential format.

10 Day ‘Train the Trainer’ Course

'FACILITATING A FRIENDSHIP, RELATIONSHIP AND SEXUALITY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMME FOR MEN AND WOMEN WITH AN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY' (FRSEP)

This training supports RUA educators to undertake a basic needs assessment with individuals and then design a programme to respond to the needs of a specific group of people with common interests and ability.  Learning takes place in a step by step format which is linked to participants understanding and integration of content.

Course Participants

This course requires that two staff members from a service, partner and work together on the course, in that they will develop the skills as a co-facilitator to deliver an effective ‘Friendships, Relationships and Sexuality Educational Programme’ for men and women with an intellectual disability.

Aims of the Train the Trainer Course for Facilitators are:

1. To provide the participant with an understanding of the key concepts and issues related to Relationships and Sexuality within a model of evidence based practice.
2. To develop the core skills necessary, to develop an effective educational programme on ‘Relationship and Sexuality Education’ for individuals with intellectual disability.
3. To increase the skills, knowledge and expertise for the delivery of evidence based educational programme.
4. To equip the student with the competency to design and deliver a curriculum for a FRSEP based on a needs assessment/evidence driven and evaluated against a range of outcomes to monitor for effectiveness

'A FRIENDSHIP, RELATIONSHIP AND SEXUALITY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMME (FRSEP) FOR MEN AND WOMEN WITH AN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY'

RUA Educational Programmes for men and women with an intellectual disability are generally run over an eight week period, for 1 ½ hours per session, and tailored or presented in multiple phases in accordance with needs assessments.

Aims:

• To assist the participants gain a positive sense of identity.
• To help people have a clear understanding of the nature of friendships and the stages that relationships progress to become intimate relationships.
• To assist people develop the confidence to make friends.
• To understand themselves as being a sexual person in the broadest sense of the word.
• To help individuals develop their own personal values and know their own boundaries, in respect of the law, their rights and their morality.
• To promote a positive approach to sexuality and sexual health
• Lead a safe sexual life
• To increase a person's ability to protect themselves from abuse or exploitation.
• To give direct information about sexual development and sexual health.
• To create an environment where people can ask questions and discuss matters related to friendships and relationships in a confidential setting.