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Question:
I am an instructor at a program for individuals with developmental disabilities. I attended a workshop with yourself a while ago and have taken a couple of workshops with Dave Hingsburger. The topics of these workshops were all related to sexuality and people with D.H. I currently teach sexuality and relationship building to the individuals I serve. My question is - Is there a course or workshop etc. that I could take to become a qualified sex educator in my field? I would appreciate your help very much. Thank you.

Answer:
by Susan Ludwig: ()
It's always exciting to hear that people are working in this field. There are some basic principles that can be helpful to learn -- you would have learned many of them from seminars like the ones you have mentioned. The best place to learn is by actually doing client groups. They have been my best teachers over the years. I know it would be great to have more training in how to do the teaching and how to devise new teaching strategies, but just doing the work is the best way to learn that! As for content, you can take any course in sexuality (and do a lot of reading about sexuality education) to keep you up to scratch in that department. Another great place to learn more about teaching social skills and sexuality education is by doing these three things: 1. Network. 2. Network and 3. Network. There have been studies done about what makes Sexuality education a success. In the study, the researchers wanted to know what made it work well. (better training, better resources, more money on training items, etc.) The single most important factor was that the people doing sexuality education were hooked up to some kind of a network of others who are doing the same thing! Sharing ideas helps us to feel less isolated and we can share our creative energies with others doing the same things! I also recommend that you get in contact with AASECT. They have a number of certified sexuality instructors, and you can learn from them what is involved in the certification process. I wish you well, and don't forget those three things!!! (the first was "Network!") Keep me posted about how you are doing! After all, Sexualhealth.com is a great way to Network! Sincerely, Susan Ludwig

Reviewed by: Patricia Fawver Ph.D. in Sexology

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