About the Guest(s):

Connie Senior is an Assistant Director and Project Manager for Project SHINE at YAI. She has over 27 years of experience in neurodevelopmental disabilities and mental health. With extensive experience advocating for and supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), Connie plays a crucial role in developing resources for this community. Her work focuses on bridging gaps in education and providing individuals with IDD the tools they need for personal empowerment, particularly in realms like sexual health education.

Breon Williams is a Project SHINE Youth Ambassador who is committed to educating and raising awareness about SHINE’s sexual health toolkit for youth with disabilities. Drawing from his personal experiences as a young man with I/DD, he connects meaningfully with both youth and families, fostering open and inclusive conversations. Williams earned a general diploma in high school and pursued two years of college. Like many young people with disabilities, he initially felt uneasy discussing sexual health. However, through his journey of self-empowerment, Williams has overcome these challenges and now strives to help others gain confidence in having these important conversations.

Episode Summary:

In a thought-provoking episode of the Think Inclusive Podcast, host Tim Villegas from the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education discusses Project SHINE with Connie Senior and Breon Williams. Developed by YAI in collaboration with Planned Parenthood and other agencies, Project SHINE aims to bridge gaps in sexual health education for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The episode highlights the project's significant impact, including the launch of "Your Sexual Health Toolkit," a comprehensive platform empowering individuals with IDD. Connie explains how the project addresses the lack of sexual education in schools and adapts to different learning needs, while Breon shares his experiences promoting the toolkit and educating his family. They also emphasize the role of educators in integrating these resources into learning programs to support students with IDD holistically.

Key Takeaways:

• Bridging Educational Gaps: Project SHINE aims to fill in the existing gaps in sexual health education for youth with IDD, ensuring they have the knowledge needed for personal safety and advocacy.
• Comprehensive Resources: Your Sexual Health Toolkit is an accessible, user-friendly resource designed to cater to individuals with IDD, featuring tools like glossaries, videos, and interactive games.
• Empowerment Through Education: Proper sexual health education empowers individuals with IDD to make informed choices, report abuse, and maintain body autonomy.
• Importance of Advocacy: Youth Ambassadors like Breon Williams are integral in spreading awareness about the toolkit and bridging the information gap within communities.
• Collaborative Efforts: The initiative underscores the need for collaboration among families, caregivers, and educational institutions to effectively deliver and promote inclusive education.

Resources:

Your Sexual Health Toolkit: https://yoursexualhealthtoolkit.org

Thank you to our sponsor, IXL. https://www.ixl.com/inclusive

Complete Show Notes + Transcript: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/empowering-youth-with-disabilities-through-sexual-health-education/

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