Autistic-Focused Sex Education

Dylan Kapit, MA

Autistic students have a variety of learning needs that require targeted curricula, pedagogical strategies, and teacher training. Many autistic students are not getting any sex education material, and if they are getting anything, it is not based off a curriculum built specifically to meet their needs. This presentation will start off with a background on autism, and then outline best practices for teaching sex education to autistic individuals, including content and pedagogical strategies, with the goal of helping sex educators learn ways to make sex education material more accessible to their autistic students.

Fat Positivity in Sex Education

Tory Sparks

This keynote will review approaches to body size diversity ranging from fatphobia to fat liberation. We will talk about fat discrimination and oppression and review best practices for integrating fat positivity into key areas of sex education.

Fixing Sex Ed: What Does It Take?

Tanya M. Bass, PhD, CHES®, CSE

Sex education is critical learning through the lifespan. Often the most utilized curricula are centered on the binary, heteronormative worldview and lacks overall inclusion. Many of the organizations and writers of the materials do not represent marginalized communities. Sexuality professionals must rely on their own knowledge and experience to modify and adapt these lessons and curricula. This leaves a gap in the materials available to meet the needs of students. Many trainings for implementation do not center students of color, students with developmental or intellectual disabilities, queer identities, or other marginalized identities. It is time we review materials and trainings to ensure it is more inclusive and culturally relevant.

Get Connected: Virtual Sex Ed for High School Training of the Educator

Grace Schoenberger, MNO

The Get Connected: Virtual Sex Ed for High School curriculum is designed to meet students exactly where they are: in front of their computers and on their phones; or at home from the comfort of their own couch or their school’s computer lab. With teenagers having more access to technology than ever before, this curriculum strives to bridge geographical boundaries and interact with young people using innovative approaches to learning sex education. This training will provide a guided, hands-on walkthrough of the curriculum, with all participants receiving a free copy after this session.

My Black Health is Beautiful

Dianne R Browne, PhD, CFLE, AASECT, CSE

Crystal D. Charley, MBA, CD

Jatesha “Jaye” Madden-Wilson, LPN

Moderated by Tara Norman

This panel presentation will familiarize participants with the brand new curriculum My Black Health Is Beautiful. Contributing authors will discuss the lesson plans they wrote and their insights on the intersection of reproductive and Black maternal health. Participants will receive a FREE copy of the curriculum.

Setting the Standard: Exploring Best Practices in Sexuality Education

Esther Corona-Vargas, PhD

Mariotta Gary-Smith, MPH, CSE

Nora Gelperin, MEd

Marlene K. Tappe, PhD

Bill Taverner, MA, CSE

Moderated by Alison McKee, MEd

What makes great sex ed? This panel presentation will introduce different models and perspectives for best practices in sexuality education, including those outlined in the Declaration of Sexual Rights, the National Health Education Standards, the National Sex Education Standards, the Principles for Sex Education, and Sex, Race, and Politics in the U.S.