SPECIAL INTIMACY NEEDS EDUCATOR: Assisting differently abled people with the improvement of their emotional and sexual needs Erasmus Project

Project Title

SPECIAL INTIMACY NEEDS EDUCATOR: Assisting differently abled people with the improvement of their emotional and sexual needs

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for adult education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Recognition, transparency, certification; Disabilities – special needs; Health and wellbeing

Project Summary

European society is pretty new to the topic of sexuality in the context of persons with disabilities. For the most part, it was considered not relevant, ethical or appropriate to be involved in a discussion regarding persons with disabilities and normalisation of their desires. It was a common misconception, that persons who could not satisfy their natural desires, do not have them. This fact shows that people with disabilities have the right to sexual experiences and adapted assistance that allows them to experience their sexuality as they deem to be fit.
Sexual assistance for those disabled adults who request it and feel the need for it we can affirm that it contributes to their inclusion.
Even due to the change of events shaped by COVID-19 pandemic, the consortium stood strong and implemented all the planned activities as well as created all the necessary outputs. Switching some events
OBJECTIVES AND RESULTS
Specific:
– The project aims at transparency and recognition of skills and qualifications by recognizing the learning outcomes through informal ad non-formal learning pathways about Assisting differently abled people with the improvement of their sexual and emotional needs.
It is envisaged that this network will reach out through specific communications actions and by customising the message according to different target groups.
DIRECT TARGET GROUPS includes adult people dealing with people with disability (families, educators…), that will benefit from a free and online training course to help them acquiring skills and competences recognised at European level for the expertise in emotional and sexual education aimed at disabled people.
MAIN INDIRECT TARGET GROUPS are made of groups of families and organisations of people with disability, that will indirectly benefit from the project, being social educators have to deal with them daily, along with the people with disability themselves.
ACTIVITIES
Events and dissemination
Intellectual Outputs: 3, The new role of the Special Intimacy Needs in Europe, methodological framework and main points profile – The European Special Intimacy Needs Educator Training Course – The European Special Intimacy Needs dissemination knowledge platform
METHODOLOGY
Reporting
Two reports were created during the first part of the project (Best Practice Report, Comprehensive Survey Report) to better understand the real situation in European Union regarding training courses and competencies of the stakeholders and the target group. The Best Practice Report involved information on educational courses, projects and initiatives regarding sexuality for persons with disabilities available in Europe.
Learning activity
This C1 activity involved two persons from each partner organization, who tested the classroom activities of the developed online course in person and discuss possible improvements. After this activity the persons involved gathered focus groups within their own organisations and trained the persons involved, as well as facilitated discussions to promote the theme of sexuality of persons with disabilities. The members of focus groups were active in some organisation regarding rights and interests of persons with diisabilities. Later on they acted as ambassadors of the project and had organised promotional events and discussions to inform target groups.
Training activity
Training activity was carried out via online means with support from the whole consortium. As it was planned, the main facilitators of the event were COMCY and Ist dei Sordi, each of whom gave their unique input to create the best experience for our learners. Amount of learners was significantly greatter than planned due to the event being online. Each country gathered at least five stakeholders and the event itself lasted for five days. Each day included uniuque presentations by each member organisation of the consortium, as well as testimonials and activities facilitated by the Trainer. The trainer was brought forth by Ist dei Sordi, she was a vastly competent individual with impeccable experience in psychology and sexuality education for persons with heard of hearing.Therefore she could manage a wide range of topics and
Pilot testing
Was carried out within the scope of IO3 by online and face-to-face techniques during the COVID-19 pandemic. A unite online evaluation form of the course created within the project was created by the member of the consortium responsible for quality control (Eurocrea), which was used as an online course validation and improvement platform. Even regarding the restrictions in some municipalities, a few partners could carry out piloting in face-to-face sessions, where the pilot test and presentation were carried out in small groups and online form was filled in on the spot.

Project Website

http://www.specialintimacy.eu

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 230479,91 Eur

Project Coordinator

NODIBINAJUMS INVALIDU UN VINU DRAUGU APVIENIBA APEIRONS & Country: LV

Project Partners

• Asociatia de Terapie Familiala si de Cuplu Timisoara
• C.F.C.D.C. CENTRE FOR COMPETENCE DEVELOPMENT CYPRUS
• EUROCREA MERCHANT SRL
• Associacio Programes Educatius Open Europe
• Fondazione Istituto dei Sordi di Torino ONLUS