It’s time to take the lead in talking about sex Annette Milligan Health Click

Annette Milligan Family – brother, nephew Culture Trained teacher CCS Registered Nurse INP Medical Clinic Health Click SAATS Safeguarding Children Initiative

Barriers to Sexuality Education Cultural barriers – very difficult to talk about sexuality in many cultures: e.g. English-speaking, Pacifica, Asian Personal barriers – high rates of sexual abuse & sexual assault in NZ Legislative until 1991 Curriculum – sexuality education/PE Resourcing – still not given high priority in budgets

Reasons for Vulnerability Impaired judgment & understanding Lack of inter-personal skills Lack of education – informal & formal Communication difficulties Live in high risk environments Frequent contact with unscrupulous care-givers, transport providers, friends, family Abusers are attracted to their environment

Why should we take the lead in talking about sex? Sexual abuse Compelling evidence that people with intellectual disabilities are abused alarmingly high rates

Why should we take the lead in talking about sex? Sexual abuse Compelling evidence that people with intellectual disabilities are abused alarmingly high rates More than 90% will experience some sexual abuse in their lifetime

Why should we take the lead in talking about sex? Sexual abuse Compelling evidence that people with intellectual disabilities are abused alarmingly high rates More than 90% will experience some sexual abuse in their lifetime 80% sexually abused more than once

Why should we take the lead in talking about sex? Sexual abuse Compelling evidence that people with intellectual disabilities are abused alarmingly high rates More than 90% will experience some sexual abuse in their lifetime 80% sexually abused more than once 49% will experience 10 or more abusive incidents

Why should we take the lead in talking about sex? Sexual abuse Compelling evidence that people with intellectual disabilities are abused alarmingly high rates More than 90% will experience some sexual abuse in their lifetime 80% sexually abused more than once 49% will experience 10 or more abusive incidents Alarmingly apparent lack of action & resources to address the problem

Why should we take the lead in talking about sex? Other studies suggest 68% of girls with developmental disabilities and 30% of boys with developmental disabilities will be sexually abused before their eighteenth birthday. According to research 15,000 to 19,000 people with developmental disabilities are raped each year in the United States Sosbey, Dick

Why should we take the lead in talking about sex? Prevention of future perpetrators Abusers are always those who have been abused

Why should we take the lead in talking about sex? Prevention of future perpetrators Abusers are always those who have been abused Intellectually disabled people who are the victims of sexual abuse themselves learn aberrant patterns of sexuality

Why should we take the lead in talking about sex? Prevention of future perpetrators Abusers are always those who have been abused Intellectually disabled people who are the victims of sexual abuse themselves learn aberrant patterns of sexuality If we want to protect people in the future, we have to start now

Why should we take the lead in talking about sex? It’s a human right To have knowledge

Education works It is of great significance in reducing vulnerability to sexual assault to note the research finding that sex education for people with an intellectual disability is negatively correlated with the incidence of sexual abuse (McCabe 1992). That is, those with more knowledge about sexual behavior are less likely to be victimised.

Why should we take the lead in talking about sex? It’s a human right To have knowledge

Why should we take the lead in talking about sex? It’s a human right To have knowledge To be safe

Why should we take the lead in talking about sex? It’s a human right To have knowledge To be safe To have a fulfilled life

Why should we take the lead in talking about sex? It’s a human right To have knowledge To be safe To have a fulfilled life To have a sexual life

Why should we take the lead in talking about sex? It’s a human right To have knowledge To be safe To have a fulfilled life To have a sexual life To reach personal potential

What is sexuality? Sexuality is the lens of being a male or female through which a person views and responds to the world. There are biological, genetic, medical, social, educational, psychological, spiritual, cultural and legal aspects to sexuality and these differ depending upon where, when and how you live, who is raising you and what is personally important to each individual.

What is sexuality? Gender

What is sexuality? Gender Sexual orientation

What is sexuality? Gender Sexual orientation Behaviour - what we do - how we dress - how we move - who we choose to be with

Can we take the lead? Yes we can If we See the problem Learn what to do Grasp the nettle Just do it!

Start with the young Begin with using the correct words

Start with the young Begin with using the correct words Start before the child or young person understands your embarrassment

Start with the young Begin with using the correct words Start before the child or young person understands your embarrassment Keep the learning at pace with development

Start with the young Begin with using the correct words Start before the child or young person understands your embarrassment Keep the learning at pace with development Make sure that everyone is consistent

Start with the young Begin with using the correct words Start before the child or young person understands your embarrassment Keep the learning at pace with development Make sure that everyone is consistent Never ignore inappropriate behaviour – set the boundaries early in life

You don’t have to do this alone There is help Psychologists Claire Ryan - Diversity Works Family Planning Association “Me”

Questions? Thank you