Using art and digital techniques in educating people with intellectual disabilities about relationships, emotional life and sexuality

Abstract

Introduction: All people, whether they have a disability or not, need age-appropriate sex education to develop positive attitudes towards their sexuality and avoid negative consequences. The aim of this training initiative is to develop a methodology for organizing and conducting sexuality education for young people with intellectual disabilities, which takes into account the specifics arising from the type of disability and their age needs. A comparative analysis of the policies on health and sexuality education of young people with intellectual disabilities in Belgium and Bulgaria is made. Material and methods: A training program on relationships, emotional life and sexuality for young people with intellectual disabilities has been developed, offered by specialists who work with people with intellectual disabilities in the social services provided by the Association for Support of People with Mental Disabilities, Varna, Bulgaria, and Les Jardins du 8ème jour, Brussels, Belgium. For a year, 4 groups of participants – in Bulgaria and Belgium – worked on the various topics included in this comprehensive training on relationships and sexuality. The methods of non-formal education were used, as well as specific art techniques. The results show that, like their peers in the general population, young people with intellectual disabilities respond to different topics related to relationships and sexuality, according to their upbringing and values, as well as the degree of reference to their personal experience. The main conclusion of the pilot implementation of this program is that the training should be comprehensive, adequate, accessible and timely, to form the necessary social and communication skills, to assist young people with intellectual disabilities to build their understanding of personal boundaries that they know and can respect.