Record last updated 2024/05/29 Comment on this info .Update this info

Narrative

Groups are formed during each session. These groups allow individuals to get facts and ask questions. Discussions include different kinds of relationships, sexuality, and self-advocacy.

Location: Wakefield, MA

Groups are based on the individual needs of participants.  Some of the themes covered in groups and trainings are :  Relationships, Identification and Expression of Feelings, Enhancing Self Esteem and Social Skills, Personal Boundaries and Body Rights, Body Parts and Changes, Sexual Development and Education, Touching:  Inappropriate and Appropriate, and personal safety skills around relationships.  Each week the group will be based on a curriculum.  Group participation is an integral part of the group.  This participation occurs through a variety of modalities including conversation, peer support, problem solving, games, visuals and much more.

Length of program:

• Weekly groups run for ten weeks and each group session is an hour long.
• We also provide a condensed five hour class.
• Both programs must have at least five people to run

Target audience: People with developmental disabilities who want to learn more about relationships and sexuality issues.  Ages may range from middle school to adulthood.

Maximum number in class: For weekly groups 8. For the condensed five hour group 12.

Trainer: Paula Thompson, LICSW has over ten years of experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities. Over the past ten years Paula’s experience includes;  Assistant Director of  Family Support Center, running DESE/DDS programs  and completing the DDS Sexuality Education Train the Trainer at the Hogan Regional Center in May 2010.

 Paula has been providing parent trainings, staff trainings and facilitating groups for people with developmental disabilities on sexuality and relationships. Groups have been provided at Life Links, Malden Public Schools, Massachusetts Downs Syndrome Congress , Melrose Public Schools, Pawtucket High School, and Riverside.

We are willing to travel to your destination that is within 20 minutes of our location to have the group at your location.  For five hour long seminars we are able to to travel an hour form our location to provide this training.

Accessibility: We can come to you or we are accessible and located near a commuter rail station.

Cost: $400 per person for a ten week group; $150 per person for the five hour semina

We additionally provide parent/caregiver and staff trainings.  Parent Trainings features conversations about how to have conversations about relationships and sexuality.  The training provides time for parents to ask questions and a variety of resources to leave with.   Staff trainings provide suggestions on how to react to various situations and ways to explain the more challenging aspects of relationships and sexuality.  These training are available at our location, we are also willing to travel. 

Service Types

• Self-Advocacy
• Self-Advocacy - Health and Safety
• Self-Advocacy - Life Skills
• Skills Training
• Socialization Activities

Program Type

• Self-Advocacy Training

Populations Served

• All Disabilities
• Developmental Disability
• Intellectual Disabilities

Ages Served

• 19 - 22
• 23 – 59

Accessibility Features

• Accessible Parking
• Accessible Restrooms

Additional Information

• Fees: Personal Funds