SHADE: Sexual Health & Disability Education
Healthy Bodies, Healthy Boundaries, Healthy Relationships
SHADE (Sexual Health & Disability Education) is more than just sex education: it is a service that teaches abuse prevention skills and empowers individuals with disabilities to live lives enriched by positive relationships. In SHADE, participants learn about topics such as boundaries and consent, online safety, healthy relationships, reproductive anatomy, and safer decision making. SHADE offers group classes and workshops as well as individualized education and counseling for people with cognitive and/or developmental disabilities.
Group Classes
SHADE partners with schools, day programs, and disability service providers to offer FREE education classes. SHADE group classes teach skills in a fun, interactive, and social setting. Participants will learn through:
Discussion
Hands-on activities
Games
Role-play
Visual aids
SHADE groups typically meet once per week for 15 weeks, although groups can be modified to best suit participant needs.
One-on-One Education and Coaching
Individual SHADE sessions provide an opportunity for participants to learn and practice skills in a one-on-one setting. These sessions are best-suited for participants seeking specific relationship skill coaching and/or for participants who might benefit from individualized instruction.
Individual Counseling
Individuals who are experiencing emotional distress related to sexual assault, sexuality, gender identity, or relationships may benefit from counseling. SHADE counseling is FREE for eligible individuals and is provided by licensed clinicians.
Community Workshops
SHADE offers FREE training and workshops to families, support staff, teachers, clinicians, emergency responders, and other disability service providers. Past topics include:
Supporting healthy sexuality for people with disabilities
Understanding and responding to problematic sexual behavior
Promoting professional boundaries at work
And more!
Get in touch and let us know how we can support you.
Eligibility
SHADE services are FREE for eligible participants thanks to the generous support of PLB. Eligible participants must:
Live in St. Louis County
Have a qualifying cognitive and/or developmental disability. Proof of diagnosis or an active IEP may be required.
SHADE Curriculum
Evidence suggests that individuals who receive comprehensive sex education are less likely to be victims of abuse and are more likely to recognize and report abuse if/when it does occur. Our curriculum is designed to give participants the knowledge and skills they need to make informed decisions about their bodies, their boundaries, and their relationships.
A typical SHADE group addresses the following topics, although our curriculum can be modified to best suit participants’ needs:
Feelings
Boundaries and consent
Public and private
Social circles
Online safety
Friendship
Dating
Healthy and unhealthy relationships
Reproductive anatomy and hygiene
Sexual feelings and behaviors
Pregnancy and birth control
STIs and safer sex
Making informed decisions
Our curriculum is designed with people with cognitive and/or developmental disabilities in mind, and we take care to ensure that our materials are accessible and developmentally appropriate for participants. If you have further questions about our curriculum or if you would like to view any of our teaching materials, please don’t hesitate to contact us.