The Body and Beyond Series
The Body and Beyond: Human Sexuality for Young People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities from a Catholic Perspective
From a Catholic perspective, human sexuality is understood as being more than biology and reproduction. When considered in its fullness, human sexuality communicates both God’s love and plan for the human person. All young people then, especially those with special needs, benefit from “Sex Ed.”
In this free, virtual seminar series, parents, ministers and teachers who care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities will gain useful information that equips them to provide important education in human sexuality. They were also invited to share their own insights and experiences related to the content being presented so that it could be further refined and improved. Across 6, 90-minute Zoom seminars, participants will explore the scope and sequence of a comprehensive human sexuality program (including, vocation, anatomy, reproduction, relationships, hygiene, and personal safety) and engage many “frequently asked questions” including:
- How does the Church understand sexuality? Why is this important? Especially for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)?
- Do people with IDD really need Sex Ed? Won’t this create more problems than it solves?
- Why isn’t education about human sexuality best addressed in a classroom setting? Why is it more appropriate when offered in an individualized manner and from a Catholic perspective?
- What topics are important to address in education about human sexuality for individuals with IDD? When? Why?
- What are the best methods for offering Sex Ed to individuals with IDD?
Featuring seminar facilitators:
- Mary O’Callaghan, Catholic mother and developmental psychologist
- Clare Kilbane, Catholic mother and educational specialist
Recordings of the presentations (without participant comments/discussions) will be made available upon request. All participants are encouraged to watch seminar 1 as it presents foundational content for the other seminars.
Few resources exist on this topic for Catholic parents, teachers, and ministers. This seminar series is designed to “pool” the expertise of the many different individuals who care for young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities for the purpose of creating resources.
Please click the links below to view the seminars. For questions or concerns, please contact Clare Kilbane, ckilbane@nd.edu.
Schedule
Seminar 1: Why Human Sexuality Education Matters for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities & A Catholic Understanding of Human Sexuality
Monday, October 10, 7:30- 9:00 p.m. EST
You may view the first seminar by clicking here.
Seminar 2: Taking Care of the Gift of Our Bodies: Hygiene
Monday, October 17, 7:30- 9:00 p.m. EST
You may view the second seminar by clicking here.
Seminar 3: Caring About Individuals With IDD = Caring About Quality Sex Ed
Monday, October 24, 7:30- 9:00 p.m. EST
You may view the third seminar by clicking here.
Seminar 4: How God Created Us; Addressing Physiology and Reproduction with IDDs Within a Life-Long, Catholic Framework
Wednesday, November 2, 7:30- 9:00 p.m. EST
You may view the fourth seminar by clicking here.
Seminar 5: God’s Plan for Us: Relationships
Wednesday, November 9, 7:30- 9:00 p.m. EST
You may view the fifth seminar by clicking here.
Seminar 6: God’s Care for Us: Ensuring Safety and Protection
Wednesday, November 16, 7:30- 9:00 EST
You may view the sixth seminar by clicking here.
Request Body and Beyond Facilitator Resources