Our strategic aim for this programme is to provide the first Irish Level 9, taught programme in Relationships and Sexuality Education for people with Intellectual Disability. The objectives are to:
- Train a generation of educators in friendships, relationships, sexuality and sexual health for people with intellectual disability across the lifespan
- Elaborate on sexuality-related literary, artistic and cultural discourses
- Advocate for the implementation and where necessary the creation of social policy on sexuality, sexual health education and sexual education promotion in relation to human rights that shape social justice and diversity
For these reasons, the aims of this programme are to enable students to:
- Develop knowledge regarding the working and diversity of sexuality, sexual identities, gender identities, sexual orientation and formation of sexual cultures
- Engage in socio-political and ethical debates regarding the interaction of cultural, health, disabilities, historical and social influences with human sexuality, at personal and societal levels
- Provide a challenging environment where initiative and creativity will be fostered and where students will be encouraged to share experiences and learn from each other
- Equip students with the skills and sexual literacy to devise and implement work-related strategies
- Develop in students the necessary competencies to measure and evaluate friendships, relationships, sexuality and sexual health related initiatives
- Emphasise in its content and delivery the need to exercise critical judgement in order to select relevant friendships, relationships, sexuality and sexual health educational tools
- Develop negotiating skills to give participants the confidence to promote solutions in the friendships, relationships, sexuality and sexual health environment
- Develop lifelong learning skills
This part-time, blended delivery programme begins in September, and comprises three core modules.
Language, Sexuality and Culture
Topics include: Socialisation process; History and theories underpinning sexuality studies; Intellectual disability; Heterosexuality; History of Irish sexuality; Social institutions; Language, media and communications; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex (LGBTQI); Power and intimacy.
Intellectual Disability Relationships and Sexuality
Topics include: Personal values and understanding of people with intellectual disability being a sexual human being; Supporting relationships; Intimacy; Communication; Power; Labelling and discrimination; Friendships and relationships for all regardless of level of disabilities
.
Pedagogy and Sexual Health
Topics include: Theoretical perspectives on teaching and learning; Theories of learning; Lesson plan development; Facilitating teaching sessions creatively and RSE policy development.
