Puberty Education for Students with Special Needs

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Puberty Education for Students with Special Needs

• Introduction Joan Marsh
• President, MarshMedia
• Chief Presenter Barb Rybolt, BSN, MSEd
• School Nurse
• Staff Liz Sweeney
• Program Developer
• White Paper author

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Agenda

• Introductions and Icebreaker
• Goals and Objectives of the Presentation
• Overview of the Girls/Boys Guides to Growing
  Up
• Chapter 1 Your Body
• Chapter 2 Change is On the Way
• Chapter 3 Staying Healthy
• Chapter 4 Keeping Clean
• Chapter 5 Privacy and Safety
• Fortune Favors the Brave!
• Question period

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Goals and Objectives

• The purpose of puberty education for students
  with special needs.
• Adapting strategies and materials to make
  learning developmentally appropriate.
• Steps to implementation.

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The purpose of puberty education for students
with special needs

• Like all children, students with developmental
  disabilities grow into adolescence with
  physically maturing bodies and a host of emerging
  social and sexual feelings and needs. Before
  these changes begin and throughout adolescence,
  it is important that educators and parents
  provide factual information in a positive and
  constructive way that is both clear and
  developmentally appropriate.

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Adapting strategies and materials

• There are three important educational
  considerations
• Is the language and vocabulary for instruction
  simple and clear? Can it be reinforced in a team
  approach?
• Are concepts presented in the most concrete ways
  possible?
• Are there opportunities for repetition, practice
  and application?

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Steps to implementation

• Engage teachers, administrators, parents or other
  key personnel in the process.
• Design an outline and schedule of sessions.
• Facilitate learning sessions.

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Overview of the Girls/Boys Guides to Growing
Up

• Components of the kit include
• Teaching guide
• Student booklets
• DVD or video
• New parent handbooks are available as supplements
  to serve in the home setting.

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Chapter 1 Your Body

• Instructional Goals
• Introduce male/female anatomy.
• Distinguish between private and other parts of
  the body.
• Give names to the private parts.
• Give functions to the private parts.

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Chapter 1 Your Body

• Considerations
• Teach vocabulary labeling and describing.
• Acknowledge different labeling words but teach
  correct biological labels.
• Help students become aware of appropriate
  settings for discussions about puberty or private
  parts.

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Chapter 1 Your Body

• head
• arms
• nipples
• breasts
• back
• pubic area
• rectum
• legs
• feet

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Chapter 2 Change is On the Way - Boys

• Instructional Goals
• Describe the physical changes that happen to the
  body during puberty.
• Explain that other changes such as pimples and
  increased sweating may occur, and how to cope
  with these changes.
• Explain what a wet dream is and that it is
  normal.
• Reassure students that puberty happens to
  everyone.

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Chapter 2 Change is On the Way

• Considerations
• Maintain a positive attitude. Change can cause
  anxiety. Straightforward information can relieve
  embarrassment.
• Be precise and break concepts into steps where
  necessary.
• Discuss good advisors. Other children are usually
  not the best source for information.

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Chapter 2 Change is On the Way - BoysSpot
the Difference
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Chapter 2 Change is On the Way - GirlsI Know
What to Do

• When I I would

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Chapter 3 Staying Healthy

• Instructional Goals
• Prepare students for changes in mood.
• Provide advice on talking about feelings.
• Communicate the importance of good nutrition and
  exercise.

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Chapter 3 Staying Healthy

• Considerations
• Puberty can be a confusing time. It is important
  to prepare students to identify and manage a
  variety of emotions.
• Maintaining good health through diet and exercise
  can help with some of the emotional and physical
  strains of adolescence. Sleep and rest are also
  important.

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Chapter 3 Staying Healthy
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Chapter 4 Keeping Clean

• Instructional Goals
• Communicate the importance of handwashing.
• Promote a hygiene routine.
• Prepare students for managing sweat and pimples.

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Chapter 4 Keeping Clean

• Considerations
• Many students will already be aware and
  self-sufficient in the area of personal hygiene.
  Others will need specific advice and how-to
  instruction, as well as practice and
  reinforcement.

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Chapter 4 Keeping Clean
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Chapter 5 Privacy and Safety

• Instructional Goals
• Distinguish between private and public places.
• Explain behavior appropriate to each place.
• Stress the importance of respecting other
  peoples privacy.
• Help develop an awareness of when the behavior of
  others is inappropriate.

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Chapter 5 Privacy and Safety

• Considerations
• Children with special needs are at higher risk
  for sexual abuse than their peers.
• Teachers are required to report suspected child
  abuse.
• Role-playing is a helpful strategy for teaching
  about sexual abuse.

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Chapter 5 Privacy and Safety

• Role Play
• Being introduced to someone new.
• Greeting a friend.
• Seeing someone change clothes in the locker room.
• Being told to keep a secret about something that
  makes you feel uncomfortable.

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Fortune Favors the Brave!

• Instructional reminder
• Is the language and vocabulary for instruction
  simple and clear? Can it be reinforced in a team
  approach?
• Are concepts presented in the most concrete ways
  possible?
• Are there opportunities for repetition, practice
  and application?

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Questions

• QA