Irish Sex Education Network

UPCOMING TRAINING EVENTS - 2008.

The following are training dates for 2008. All training will take place in All Hallows College, Grace Park Road, Drumcondra, Dublin. More details of the training day will be available closer to the date. All queries regarding training should be emailed to isentraining@yahoo.co.uk

Parents Evening
An opportunity to meet and share experiences
Thursday September 25th 2008, 7pm – 9pm
All Hallows College, Drumcondra

Are you a parent or family member who would like to talk about friendships and relationships in the lives of people with intellectual disability? Would you like to meet other parents and hear about their experiences in this area?
If so, this evening is for you.
Programme
1. Introduction: Who are ISEN ?

2. Guest Speaker: Parent Advocate Frieda Finlay , talks about her experience of supporting the friendship and relationship needs of her daughter.

3. Discussion: An opportunity for parents to share their experiences and explore how ISEN can support you.

ISEN is a network dedicated to providing information, education and training in the area of friendships, relationships and sexuality for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Venue: All Hallows College
Grace Park Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 9

Date & Time: Thursday 29th May 2008, 7pm - 9pm

RSVP before 20th May to isentraining@yahoo.co.uk or 087-6284538

Note: There is no charge for this meeting but places must be booked in advance as there is limited space

25th September 2008 10.30am - 15.30pm

A training day for people with Intellectual Disabilities facilitated by Declan Drohan

Declan is Artistic Director of Quick Bright Things Theatre Company, a collective comprised of 24 individuals with intellectual disabilities based at Carmona Services, Glenageary, Dublin.

13th Novembe 2008

ISEN Annual General Meeting

Previous Training Events

13th March 2008

Daniel Wilson Supporting People with Intellectual Disabilities in Relationships

Barriers and Breakthroughs
November 8th, 2007 at All Hallows

ISEN Annual General Meeting - Stepping Up
&
Training Day

"In our house we're not terribly sexual"
Exploring the barriers to supporting intellectually disabled
people in a service agency group home.
Presentation of research by Carol Hamilton NILD

The Daphne Project
Presentation - KARE Services

Becoming a Parent
Parents from Step Enterprises share their experiences becoming parents

Thursday September 20th

This day long exploration for people with an intellectual disability involved using drama to develop interpersonal skills. Participants explored negotiating, problem solving skills, leadership and presentation skills.

Facilitated by Declan Drohan M.A, H.Dip.Ad.E., who lectures in Performing Arts at Institute of Technology, Sligo. Declan is a freelance Theatre Director with a twelve year history of involvement in the evolution of the Arts and Disability movement in Ireland. He is Artistic Director of Quick Bright Things Theatre Company, a collective comprised of 24 individuals with intellectual disabilities based at Carmona Services, Glenageary, Dublin.

Thursday 24th May 2007

A day for staff and service users
A‘Show and Tell’ day

at All Hallows College, Grace Park Road, Drumcondra
Facilitated by Dr Kelley Johnson of the National Institute for Intellectual Disability at Trinity College.

If you are involved in an initiative, project, policy development or are aware of any useful resources or interesting approaches, we would love to hear about it e.g.

Has anyone used any of the ideas from Lesley Kerr Edwards training? How did it go?

Have you used/ come across any interesting resources e.g. questionnaire, videos etc. that would be of interest to others in the Network?

Have you used/ come across any innovative ideas for introducing RSE policy to staff or service users?

If you are a service user or staff, what has your experience of RSE programmes been?

There is such a wealth of knowledge and experience within the Network and this is a chance to learn from each other. Please do come and share your experiences, dilemmas and inspired thinking.

The day will begin with a presentation by Dr Johnson on her involvement in, and the outcomes of, the Living Safer Sexual Lives project -a 3 year research project undertaken in Australia. The project was established to gain an understanding of how people with intellectual disabilities saw their sexual lives and relationships and to develop interventions from the research that would assist them to lead safer sexual lives. The project involved a series of consultations between the researchers and representatives from service provider and advocacy organisations:

Biographical Notes:

Kelley has worked with people with intellectual disability in Australia for more than fifteen years as a researcher and advocate. In her current role, as Marie Curie International Research Fellow at the National Institute for Intellectual Disability, Kelley is working with people with intellectual disability, their colleagues and families in Ireland to develop inclusive research projects. Inclusive research means people having a voice and power in research about issues of concern to them. She will develop a course for people with intellectual disability about research methods and work with them to document their life histories.

WORKSHOP FEES
Members of ISEN: Free, pay for lunch only (€15)
Non Members: €35 for training + (€15 if availing of lunch)
Family members €10 + (€15 if availing of lunch)

Venue Room One, All Hallows College, Drumcondra, Dublin
Dates & Times Thursday, May 24th 2007 10am Registration and Coffee.
Workshop Sessions 10.30am-12.30pm and 1.30pm to 3.30pm (Lunch 12.30-1.30pm)

RSVP by Thursday 17th May to isentraining@yahoo.co.uk or by phoning ISEN at 087- 6284538
PLEASE INDICATE IF LUNCH IS REQUIRED AND IF VEGETARIAN

PREVIOUS TRAINING EVENTS - 2007.

‘Exploring Sexualities’

One-day workshop style training, Thursday 15th March 2007, with Georgie McCormick, Manager of Training and Services, The Family Planning Association, Belfast

The aim of the day is to enable participants to explore historical context and present day issues for people who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual.

This will be a participative day, involving a mixture of whole group discussions and small group work in which participants will be given the opportunity to:
? Explore their own and society’s attitudes to sexual orientation in the context of adult sexual relationships and expression.
? Explore ways of supporting people with learning disability in their understanding and expression of their sexuality and sexual orientation.

In addition, Georgie, and her colleague Mark Breslin, will speak on a project being run by the fpa in Belfast called ‘Just Ask’. This involves direct work with people with learning disability their supporters and family. The focus is on sexuality and sexual health.

Background Information on Trainer
Georgie McCormick has worked with fpa in Northern Ireland since 1986 and is currently Manager of Training and Services with fpa based in Belfast. She has worked as a counsellor, community education facilitator and trainer in the area of sexuality, sexual health and personal relationships. She has developed training resources and learning modules and has worked with a range of statutory, voluntary and community organisations in the Irish Republic, the North of Ireland and Great Britain in developing sexuality work. In recent years Georgie has worked with a wide range of agencies developing policy and practice for people with learning disability, personal relationships and sexuality and has been part of a group of people involved in the setting up of a support group for gay men with learning disability. Georgie was also a couple counsellor with Relate for nine years.

WORKSHOP FEES
Members of ISEN: Free, pay for lunch only (€15)
Non Members: €35 for training + (€15 if availing of lunch)
Family members €10 + (€15 if availing of lunch)

Venue Room Two, All Hallows College, Drumcondra, Dublin
Dates & Times Thursday, March 15th 2007 10am Registration and Coffee.
Workshop Sessions 10.30am-12.30pm and 1.30pm to 3.30pm (Lunch 12.30-1.30pm)

N.B. as numbers at this training event are strictly limited to 30, early booking is advised.

RSVP by Thursday 1st March to isentraining@yahoo.co.uk or by phoning ISEN at 087- 6284538
PLEASE INDICATE IF LUNCH IS REQUIRED AND IF VEGETARIAN

Training Events from February 2007 to December 2007 to be posted shortly on this page

January 2007 Event:

Annual General Meeting of ISEN followed by

‘Enabling Connections’ Placing Sexuality within a Person Centred Approach for people with an Intellectual Disability. Facilitated by Caroline Dench

This workshop is designed for staff and families as they promote and enable healthy sexual expression. Key roles of ‘Enabler, Carer, Parent or Keeper’ will be explored and a model for developing healthy sexuality will be presented. This workshop is ideal for services considering best practice guidelines in this area.

The workshop will include presentation, handouts and involve participants working in small groups.

Facilitator
Caroline Dench
Caroline Dench, M.A. is the co-ordinator of the Callan Institute for Positive Behaviour Support, St John of God Hospitaller Services, Ireland . Ms Dench trained as a Clinical Psychologist and has focused upon training and supporting staff, families and organisations to respond effectively to people with challenging behaviour. Her work draws upon extensive experience as a practitioner, trainer and lecturer both in Ireland and the United States . She joined the Callan Institute in 1997 and has assisted in its development as a nationally accredited training and consultation agency. She is consultant to RUA – Raising Understanding and Awareness about Friendships Relationships and Sexuality, a service that is also based in the Callan Insititute.

WORKSHOP FEES
Members of ISEN: Free
Non-members: €40 for training + €15 if availing of lunch
Family members (of service users): €10 + €15 if availing of lunch

Venue: Room 1, All Hallows College, Drumcondra, Dublin.

Dates and Times: Thursday 18th January 2007.
10am Registration and Coffee
10.30am –11.30am Annual General Meeting of the ISEN
NOTE: Only members of the ISEN may attend the AGM
Workshop sessions: 11.30am-12.30pm and 1.30-3.30pm (lunch 12.30-1.30pm)

RSVP by Friday 16th December to isentraining@yahoo.co.uk or by phoning ISEN at 087- 6284538

INDICATE IF LUNCH IS REQUIRED AND IF VEGETARIAN

Training Days in 2006

February 2006: A training day centered on 'Protecting People' with Shae Caffery as keynote speaker

27th April 2006: International speaker Michelle McCarthy presents on 'Menopause and Intellectual Disability'

June 2006: International Speakers from Belgium on Sexuality Policies and Personal Development for people with Intellectual Disabilities

21st September 2006 - Personal Development Day for People with Intellectual Disabilities, enriching day with lots of fun!

October 2006 - Two Day Training with Lesley Kerr Edwards 'Teaching Sex Education through Drama'.

TRAINING EVENTS IN 2005

Thursday November 24th 2005

Resource Workshop and ISEN AGM

All Hallows College, Drumcondra, Dublin

This one day event will include a two hour demonstration workshop on an excellent user friendly resource for personal development, relationships and sexuality education for adults and young people with an intellectual disability.

Presented by Tracie Marshall, Drama Teacher from Headon Limited, participants will have an opportunity to learn how to use the Bodyboard and accompanying packs on topics such as Sex Education and Puberty, Emotions, Personal Hygiene, Masturbation, Friendships and Romantic Relationships, Conception and Pregnancy, Conception and Making Love, Life Cycle of HIV, Stereotypes and Body Language.

This Training event will also consist of the ISEN AGM and presentation of the research ' The Current Status of Sex Education for People with an Intellectual Disability in Ireland 2005'. Ms Catherine Canney Senior Educational Psychologist from St. John of Gods Services will present this.

The ISEN strongly recommend all members attend this event as future directions of the ISEN for 2006 will also be discussed.

5th & 6th December 2005

All Hallows College, Drumcondra, Dublin

Relationships and Sex Education through Drama - Lesley Kerr Edwards, Image In Action, UK

This is a two day intensive training with Lesley Kerr Edwards from Image In Action. This training will enable participants to develop a programme and skills in teaching sex education through drama. This course is recommended for people delivering relationship and sex education programme's within their organisation.

Places will be limited, organisations/individuals are advised to book early through isentraining@yahoo.co.uk

Background on Trainer

Lesley Kerr-Edwards is a teacher and drama therapist who has developed her work in both mainstream and special education over the past twenty years and is the author of several books on sex and relationships education. She directs Image in Action, a specialist organisation that carries out direct work in London with children, young people and adults with intellectual disabilities and leads training events throughout the UK.

29th September 2005 All Hallows College, Drumcondra, Dublin

This training event consisted of a presentation from KARE on 'Developing policy and guidelines on sexuality- the problems and progress encountered'.

This Seminar also consisted of a presentation by The Galway Association on 'Capacity to consent to sexual Relationships - preliminary findings'

The second part of this seminar was facilitated by Patricia Rickard-Clarke, Commissioner of the Law Reform Commission. 'Vulnerable Adults and the Law' this presentation included information on:

A functional approach to capacity,

Specific areas of decision making,

Capacity to make health care decisions,

Section 5 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993.

ACTING UP! SPEAKING OUT!

June 16th 2005 All Hallows College, Drumcondra, Dublin

TRAINING EVENTS FROM JANUARY TO JUNE 2005

RELATIONSHIPS AND SEXUALITY AWARENESS TRAINING FOR STAFF & FAMILY MEMBERS. February 17th 2005, All Hallows College, Drumcondra

This one day training event addressed Values, Abuse, Consent, Legal Issues, Rights and Relationships. Participants gained a heightened awareness on this subject matter.

Facilitated by Jim Gogarty who is a qualified Teacher and Social Worker with fifteen years experience in the fields of Childcare, Health and Disability in Ireland and the UK.

CREATIVE APPROACHES TO SELF EXPRESSION AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT GROUP WORK

April 28th 2005, All Hallows College, Drumcondra

This one day workshop provided participants with the opportunity to further enhance group facilitation skills and experience a variety of creative approaches and media's. Participants learned new ways on how to engage with people with an intellectual disability to facilitate personal development and improve communication skills.

The workshop focused on experiential activities utilising movement, art, music, play, storytelling and drama. The power of non-verbal communication and enhancing self awareness was explored.

Facilitated by Eileen Prendiville, M.I.A.H.I.P, I.B.E.C.T, C.P.T.-P, R.N.M.H, DIP.Ed. Eileen is a accredited psychotherapist and play therapist. She is Director and Core Trainer for Children's Therapy Centre's training programmes in relation to play and psychotherapy, childhood trauma, and therapeutic work with clients of all ages.