Virtual Event, August 19th, 2022, with Pathlight, Greenfield, MA. Whole Selves is all about straightforward, empowering, and comprehensive sexuality education for people with intellectual disabilities.
* JUNE – JULY – AUGUST TOPICS – See below (keep scrolling).
- Social Media Clinics
April 4, 2022 – April 8, 2022 , May 16, 2022 – May 20, 2022
This clinic teaches students how to be safe in the online world. Topics covered are: Public and private online, technology boundaries, staying healthy with online relationships (friendships and romantic), bullying (gaming and all social media), and dating sites (only if appropriate for the age group). Appropriate for all ages. For more information or to register for this clinic, click https://wholeselves.org/whole-selves-part-i-clinics/ - Self-Advocacy Clinic -April 11, 2022 – April 15, 2022. Students learn the meaning and importance of self-advocacy before they learn specific steps that can help them speak up for themselves in their lives.
* Students learn to identify “What I Want”, “Who I Can Talk To”, and “What I Can Say”, in a variety of realistic scenarios.
* Students learn that some situations call for self-advocacy and some may call for flexibility.
* Finally, each student learns about the IEP and identifies the members of their IEP team.
* The clinic ends with a mock IEP experience in which each student practices self-advocating at their IEP meeting.
* Appropriate for all ages. For more information or to register for this clinic, click https://wholeselves.org/whole-selves-part-i-clinics/ - Decision Making Clinic – April 18, 2022 – April 22, 2022. This clinic helps student learn how to make healthy and safe decisions in their lives.
* The clinic begins by showing students that they already make decisions every day, before teaching a step-by-step process that they can use to make more difficult decisions.
* Appropriate for all ages.
* For more information or to register for this clinic, click https://wholeselves.org/whole-selves-part-i-clinics/ - Public and Private Clinic – April 25, 2022 – April 29, 2022. Students learn the difference between public and private places, activities, and topics and that their whole body is private.
* Students are introduced to the anatomically accurate names of the body parts commonly referred to as the “private parts.”
* The clinic concludes with a lesson about social media.
* Appropriate for all ages.
* For more information or to register for this clinic, click https://wholeselves.org/whole-selves-part-i-clinics/ - Puberty Clinic (two (2) weeks) – May 2, 2022 – May 13, 2022. Far from your average health class, our clinic is designed for students of all abilities and will foster confidence and competence in a way that is fun and comfortable.
* Geared for children ages 10 – 16, the Puberty Clinic will cover body changes, body parts, and the differences between children and adults.
* Add to that a healthy dose of activities fostering self-esteem and self-confidence.
* Most importantly, your child will know that they are not alone in this process.
* Students then move onto Body Changes in Depth (erections/ejaculation, menstruation, PMS, masturbation), Hygiene and why it is important during puberty, Social Changes, Emotional Changes, Reproduction, Sexual Orientation, and Sexual Identity.
* For more information or to register for this clinic, click https://wholeselves.org/whole-selves-part-i-clinics/
PART II - Setting the Tone, Part II – June 6, 2022 – June 10, 2022 (Pre-Requisite for the following Whole Selves Clinics: Fundamental Boundaries, Types of Relationships, Healthy Relationships, Friendships, Romantic Relationships/Dating, Navigating Sexual Relationships, and Boundaries and Personal Safety. Age recommendations are indicted for each clinic.)
* Setting the Tone, Part II introduces students to the second part of the Whole Selves curriculum.
* Students become familiar with basics of boundaries and consent and establish group expectations.
* Together, the group establishes a welcoming and safe environment in which students can explore topics around relationships, dating, sex, and personal safety.
* Appropriate for all ages.
* For more information or to register for this clinic, click https://wholeselves.org/whole-selves-part-ii-clinics/ - Fundamental Boundaries Clinic – June 13, 2022 – June 17, 2022. Students learn how to firmly set a boundary, how to get and give consent, and that they and others have the right to set boundaries for touch, their possessions, what people talk about around them, and with social media.
* Students are introduced to the concept of “Red Flags” and what to do when they see a red flag in their relationships. * Appropriate for all ages.
* For more information or to register for this clinic, click https://wholeselves.org/whole-selves-part-ii-clinics/ - Types of Relationships Clinic – June 20, 2022 – June 24, 2022. Students explore and categorize the types of relationships in their lives.
* They also learn that each type of relationship comes with its own set of boundaries.
* Appropriate for all ages.
* For more information or to register for this clinic, click https://wholeselves.org/whole-selves-part-ii-clinics/ - Healthy Relationships Clinic – June 27, 2022 – July 1, 2022. Students learn the five elements of a healthy relationship: Trust, Support, Communication, Respect, and Healthy Boundaries.
*They explore these elements in friendships, romantic relationships, and with online relationships.
* Students also learn how to evaluate their relationships and how to address red flags.
* Recommended for ages 14+.
* For more information or to register for this clinic, click https://wholeselves.org/whole-selves-part-ii-clinics/ - Friendships Clinic – July 11, 2022 – July 15, 2022. This clinic is all about making friends and sustaining existing friendships.
* Students learn about boundaries in friendships, managing conflict, social dilemmas, peer pressure, and red flags.
* The clinic ends with learning how to navigate online friendships.
* Appropriate for all ages.
* For more information or to register for this clinic, click https://wholeselves.org/whole-selves-part-ii-clinics/ - Romantic Relationships/Dating Clinic (two (2) weeks) – July 18, 2022 – July 29, 2022. In this two-part clinic, students learn the steps of dating and that attraction is usually the first step.
* They learn about sexual orientation, red flags in romantic relationships, how to evaluate a romantic relationship, and how to deepen communication with partners.
* Recommended for ages 16+.
* For more information or to register for this clinic, click https://wholeselves.org/whole-selves-part-ii-clinics/ - Navigating Sexual Relationships Clinic (two (2) weeks) – August 1, 2022 – August 12, 2022. In this two-part clinic they review enthusiastic consent, reproductive anatomy, and masturbation.
* They clarify what sex is, talk about sexual safety, birth control, STIs, and pregnancy.
* They teach that communication is very important in sexual relationships and how to know if they are ready to have sex.
* They end the unit with “Fact, Belief, Expectation” to clear up any misconceptions students might have.
* They also help students figure out if they are ready for a sexual relationship.
* Recommended for ages 17+.
* For more information or to register for this clinic, click https://wholeselves.org/whole-selves-part-ii-clinics/ - Boundaries and Personal Safety Clinic – August 15, 2022 – August 19, 2022. In this clinic they talk about what it means to be safe in the community.
* They define, give examples of, and talk about what to do if someone experiences physical, emotional, or sexual abuse.
* They teach students what to do if they experience abuse from a ‘trusted’ adult. We also teach that abuse can happen based on bias.
* Recommended for ages 13+.
* For more information or to register for this clinic, click https://wholeselves.org/whole-selves-part-ii-clinics/
To find out more information about this program, contact Tracy Romeo, Business Manager, Whole Selves, Hadley, MA, 413.314.3152
PREVIOUS 2022 CLINICS
The February 16th PARENT INFORMATION information session “Whole Selves” Self Esteem, Intimacy & Consent for Special Needs Young Adults, is an information/question and answer session for parents to learn about Whole Selves and our clinics and meet instructors.
- Setting the Tone Clinic – February 28th – March 4th Session Setting the Tone, Part I (Pre-Requisite for the following Whole Selves Clinics: I Matter, Knowing Yourself, Self-Care, Emotions, Social Media, Self-Advocacy, Decision Making, Public and Private, and Puberty. Age recommendations are indicted for each clinic.)
*Setting the Tone, Part I introduces students to the Whole Selves curriculum and provides a foundation for the clinics to come.
* Students preview the curriculum topics, become familiar with relevant vocabulary, and establish group expectations.
* Together, they establish a welcoming and safe environment in which students can explore the ins and outs of growing up.
* Appropriate for all ages.
For more information or to register for this clinic, click https://wholeselves.org/whole-selves-part-i-clinics/ - I Matter Clinic – March 7, 2022 – March 11, 2022. The lessons and activities in I Matter help students understand that their thoughts and feelings are important, which is the first step to building healthy relationships, creating strong boundaries and self–advocacy skills.
* Building self-esteem and self-confidence are cornerstones of this clinic.
* This clinic takes an honest look at bullying in all its forms and teaches strategies to deal with bullying.
* Recommended for ages 10-16.
* For more information or to register for this clinic, click https://wholeselves.org/whole-selves-part-i-clinics/ - Knowing Yourself Clinic – March 14, 2022 – March 18, 2022. This is a clinic about exploring who you are, what are your likes/dislikes, values, strengths, things that give you trouble, and your needs and how to meet them.
* They group does a brief introduction to self-advocacy and decision making and how they relate to knowing yourself. * Recommended for ages 10-16.
* For more information or to register for this clinic, click https://wholeselves.org/whole-selves-part-i-clinics/ - Self-Care Clinic – March 21, 2022 – March 25, 2022. This clinic is learning to take care of your body and your mind.
The group is taught the importance of exercise, healthy eating, and hygiene.
* They address self-talk and how important it is for self-talk to be positive.
* Recommended for ages 10-16.
* For more information or to register for this clinic, click https://wholeselves.org/whole-selves-part-i-clinics/ - Emotions Clinic – March 28, 2022 – April 1, 2022. Students explore a wide range of emotions with a focus on happiness, anger, sadness, and fear/anxiety.
* The goal is to help students recognize these emotions in themselves and others, understand their emotional triggers, and know how to deal with strong feelings.
* Recommended for ages 10-16.
* For more information or to register for this clinic, click https://wholeselves.org/whole-selves-part-i-clinics/