Sex ed campaign for children with learning disabilities

mas - 5 August 2008

Very much agree with Fey's comments.

I can't see a good argument for not educating children and young people about sex - I realise it needs to be carefully done but I do think its important - partly from the perspective of educating about consequences etc. but also about awareness of whats right and wrong in relationships so that for example young people may be aware that innapropriate behaviours from adults is wrong and should be reported.

I'm not sure that education itself is the solution to teenage pregnancy levels though - I don't know the official stats but I wasn't aware the levels have gone down significantly in recent years? (maybe somebody could correct me on that?) - this seems a much more complex issue than awareness and certainly I've worked with young women who were fully aware of the implications of having sex but still became pregnant before leaving school (and at least one that set out to do so).

I think sex education should be part of every childs education though, and I certainly don't think that regarding it as a dirty or pornographic act is helpful. The earlier comment about being too idle to protect children from adults I think naive considering that most underage sex will be between young people of a similar age.

Jo Bradley - 5 August 2008

Sorry have I missed something here Charlotte? Way back in 1999 when the govt brought in their reducing teenage pregnancy (TP) agenda did we not have one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancy in the western world? Could this not be attributed to the fact that we didn't really 'do' relationships and sex education? If we did,it was generally patchy, hit and miss across all areas of education/parenting/friendships. Are we not now moving in the right direction by training professionals and parents to be able to discuss relationships and sexual health with young people with a large emphasis on delaying early sex? Helping young people increase their self esteem and confidence to be able to say 'no' to pressure is an inbuilt foundation of the work we do to reduce TP. We do not push sex into the faces of anyone but enable people to have open and honest dicussions that is not only age appropriate but also delivered at an appropriate time and level for the young person.

Should we have continued to ignore our increasing TP and sexually transmitted infection rates and the fact that young people are actually having sex without any understanding of risk?

Should we be promoting abstinence only education just like the USA? From research funded by the US Govt.and our own country's research, we know that this approach, the 'just say no' approach, has been proven to be ineffective. Young people who have attended abstinence only programmes are just as likely to break their 'pledge' and have sex before marriage or contract an STI because they don't really know where to go to access services that can offer them advice and guidance on how to prevent a pregnancy or an STI, that's not a required part of their education because they're not going to have sex before marriage...right?

Do people with learning disabilities not deserve the same rights, information, advice and guidance on relationships and sexual health at a level that is appropriate for them as other young people? Should we not accept that they might well want to explore their sexuality and just ignore the fact that they too are sexual beings?

I could go on...I usually do! I leave you with this, there is no evidence (no matter how some people wish there was) to prove that a good relationships & sex education leads to young people having sex early. In fact, I think it's been proven the opposite. Thanks Jo

Fey Clark - 5 August 2008

Wow - this topic seems to have really upset people here.

As a parent and a professional I feel it is my responsibility to ensure my child can grow into an adult who will be able to be clear on what is right and wrong and how to make clear, well judged decisions. I think it's important to remember that if these sort of subjects are taught by people who know how to react and bring it to a child's level than it is important to give children informed skills to move through life confidently. I totally agree that it should be at the level of the individual child but I also think that children have the right to understand.

 We often do not give children enough credit for understanding. I also do not feel I can be a constant protector of my daughter - when she decides to play on the climbing frame, she may fall off. I will try my best to ensure she is as safe as she can be but I also have to allow her to take on risks and assess it for herself. Without these skills going into the big bad world could end with serious consequences. I'm not saying I would let her go off and find out all these things for herself but I will let her make choices which are right for her stage of development - as I would any child I worked with.

Sex shouldn't be pushed into a child's face but it is a natural and important part of life. It should be respected because of this and not seen as such a scary topic to deal with. There is a massive difference in seeing it being taught as "porn" or giving young people the skills to understand how to protect themselves properly and realise their is no stigma in developing sexually through their puberty and adult life. Honesty based at a child's level should be embraced not hid under the carpet.

On another note what do you see as the issue towards work? I work, study and provide for my child. She comes as priority number one and always sees me there at school events throughout the year. She understands that we have nice things because we work hard for it and if you want to succeed in something you have to put in the effort. She also understands that fun things do not always cost and a walk in the park can be just as much fun as a trip to the fun fair. Is this a bad lesson to teach, should I not of had children???

Charlotte Peters Rock - 5 August 2008

In response to Lisa: Sex is fine, for people able to cope with the concept and its potential results. The problem is that 'sex' has been shoved at children far too young to want or need that idea. It is blighting the lives of these 'little consumers' and selling ideas which go way over their heads. It removes their right to a childhood of playing and learning what is important in life.

In our gadarene rush to promote sex to children we corrupt their minds and remove their childhood, when what we should be doing is protecting them. Oh, I forgot, its more important that all parents should be out at work, isn't it? In that case, why have children at all? 

Whether they are fully able or disabled, our young have a right to progress at their own rate, and to be sensibly guided, by caring adults, not government policies or buzz word' fashions.

If we teach sex - in all its glory - to our young people only because we are too idle to protect them from adults who should not be anywhere near children, we pervert the course of their lives.

If accountability was brought back into our culture - and by that I mean accountability of all adults, whether parents, or professionals or others - perhaps we could then allow our children and young people their childhood and youth?

There's a lot more to 'protecting their innocence' than shoving 'sex' at them in junior and infant schools. 

A question, Lisa, if a child decided it was ready to play on the motorway, or jump from a 30 foot wall, or play at fire in teh living room, would you protect that child from the results of that thought?

Children are not adults. They have not had enough experience of the world to make up their own minds. That is why adults need to act as benign protectors. That's the point of being adult. That is the point of being a constant protector and guider until that young person is genuinely able to make up a mind which is experienced enough to cope.

Lisa Handy - 5 August 2008

In response to Charlotte....Is sex not ok? Is abortion not free? This isn't about 'keeping STD clinics flourishing' but ensuring Young People have access to the correct information and access to clinics so they can make informed decisions about their sexuality and protecting themselves from the risks of sexual intercourse when they decide they're ready. It's not about removing their childhood but ensuring they have the correct information so they can prolong their childhood, making sure they don't become mums and dads before they're ready because someone decided to 'protect their innocence'.

Charlotte Peters Rock - 4 August 2008

So will young disabled people be told, as their more able peers have already been told, sex is OK, get some practice, sex is your right, sex doesn't need love, making love is a thing which you cannot expect, short term 'relationships are what you can expect, abortion is free and ok, etc.

That would be a great way to keep all the std clinics flourishing. But what does it do to the individual?

Haven't we damaged enough of our children already, removing their childhood, as sexual empire builders 'sell' them ideas well above their capacity or need?

Whatever happened to protecting the innocence of childhood, removing the threats and keeping our young from harm?

There is a point where 'professionals' lacking any lifelong responsibility for the health and emotional wellbeing of the youngster, take their big ideas too far.

Still, what does it matter? Professionals go home at the end of the day.