Youth & Young Adults
Disability-Centered Education

Promoting Healthy Sexuality for Students with Disabilities 

Student with Special Needs

Customized Healthy Sexuality Education for Students with Disabilities

At Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, Seeing & Exploring Life's Future's (SELF) school sexuality program — available through Minneapolis Public Schools since 1985 — has a new focus on inclusive and adaptable programming to promote healthy sexuality for students living with disabilities.

Through this initiative, our trainers work closely with families, schools, teachers and staff to provide accessible, relevant and meaningful education for youth of all abilities.

Education can be adapted to include:

  • Puberty, reproduction and anatomy
  • Appropriate touch and boundaries
  • Pregnancy prevention and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
  • Self-esteem and body image
  • Healthy communication, sexual negotiation and refusal skills
  • Dating, healthy and unhealthy relationships
  • Media influences on sexual health

One-to-One Educational Opportunities

LSS SELF now offers customizable, one-to-one educational opportunities! These sessions are available to those who are unable to attend our group education offerings due to scheduling concerns or because of the need for more individualized attention. No matter how you connect with us, we are committed to providing inclusive and adaptable sexual health education for everyone.

We are also proud to now offer educational opportunities around sexual health, consent and healthy relationships to some youth involved in the court system. We understand that many do not have access to this information for a variety of reasons. While we are not able to provide support in all cases, since 2020, the LSS SELF team has been able to offer training to several youth to either meet the terms of their probation or, in some cases, avoid sentencing altogether.

These services are offered at no cost to the participants.  For more information, please contact us.

 

The Impact of SELF

Watch our video to see students who have participated in our healthy sexuality program showcase the knowledge they gained around healthy relationships, consent, boundaries, safety and self-advocacy. You will also hear our LSS SELF team and other local sexuality educators describe the importance of accessible, relevant and meaningful education for everyone.

 

We can also offer other customized workshops for school personnel, parents and students on a variety of other sexual health topics. Please contact us to see how we can tailor a program to meet your needs.