Questions and Answers: Sexual Health Education for Youth with Physical Disabilities – Additional resources

Additional resources

The opinions expressed in these resources are those of the authors/organizations and do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Public Health Agency of Canada. While some resources may address a specific condition, they have been included for their applicability in principle to other physical disabilities.

Note: Before using these resources with school­ aged youth, it is advisable to preview them as some may contain sensitive content and may not be appropriate for all ages.

Organizations

Quebec Association of Rehabilitation Establishments for the Physically Impaired

1001, De Maisonneuve Blvd. West
Suite 430 Montreal, QC  H3A 3C8
Telephone: 514-282-4205
Fax: 514-847-9473
Email: info@aerdpq.org

The Quebec Association of Rehabilitation Establishments for the Physically Impaired brings together 21 health and social services establishments with facilities in 105 locations across the province. Quebec's physical rehabilitation centres (PRCs) offer specialized, and in some cases ultra-specialized adaptation, rehabilitation and social integration services to persons with a physical impairment.

Council of Canadians with Disabilities

926-294 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, MB  R3C OB9
Telephone: 204-947-0303
TDD: 204-943-4757
Fax: 204-942-4625
Email: ccd@ccdonline.ca

Council of Canadians with Disabilities is a national human rights organization of people with disabilities working for an inclusive and accessible Canada.

GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre - Sexual Health Rehabilitation Services (Vancouver Coastal Health)

4255 Laurel St.
Vancouver, BC V5Z 2G9
Telephone: 604-734-1313
Fax: 604-737-6359
Email: feedback@vch.ca

The mandate of the Centre is to offer education, emotional support and, where indicated, medical and non-medical interventions to clients (and their loved ones) to help them understand and manage changes to sexuality that are a result of a physical disability.

Public Health Agency of Canada

Centre for Communicable Diseases and
Infection Control
Public Health Agency of Canada
100 Eglantine Driveway
A.L. 0602C, Tunney's Pasture
Ottawa, ON  K1A OK9
Fax: 613-946-0678
Email: ccdic-clmti@phac-aspc.gc.ca

Sunny Hill Education Resource Centre

3644 Slocan Street, Room S225
Vancouver, BC V5M 3E8
Toll free: 1-800-331-1533
Telephone: 604-453-8335
Fax: 604-875-3455
Email: sherc@cw.bc.ca

The Sunny Hill Education Resource Centre (SHERC) houses a unique collection of books, videos, journals, board games, curricula and various educational props and materials designed for children with disabilities. The library houses a large collection of sexuality and disability resources available for residents of British Columbia to borrow.

The Anne Johnston Health Station

2398 Yonge Street
Toronto, ON  M4P 2H4
Telephone: 416-486-8666
TDD: 416-486-6759
Fax: 416-486-8660
Email: info@ajhs.ca

The Anne Johnston Health Station is a not-for-profit community health centre providing a wide range of programs and services that promote the health and well-being of seniors, youth and people with physical disabilities.

Non-Fiction Books

Enright, R. & VanHamme, S.L. (1995). Caution: Do Not Open Until Puberty (An Introduction to Sexuality for Young Adults with Disabilities). Sparta (Ontario): Devinjer Press.

This book attempts to break the silence that can prevent an open discussion of sexuality with adolescents with disabilities and their families. It is also recommended for professionals and parents looking for a non-threatening and humorous way to discuss sexuality with children and adolescents.

Irvine, J.M. (1994). Sexual Cultures and the Construction of Adolescent Identities. Health, Society, and Policy Series, Philadelphia: Temple University Press.

This book explores how a teenager's race, class, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and family relationships affect the development of his or her sexual identity. It discusses the relationship between ethnic background and adolescent sexual behaviours, desires and body image. With a specific focus on Asian, Latino, gay and lesbian, and teenagers with physical disabilities, this text challenges common generalizations about cultural groups to help educators develop culturally competent sexual education curricula.

Kaufman, M. (2005). Easy For You To Say: Q&A's for Teens Living With Chronic Illness or Disability. Buffalo: Firefly Books.

Easy for You To Say profiles the lives of uniquely challenged teens as they work hard to make sense of the world and their place in it. The book offers practical advice, straight talk and honest answers to questions that many would be too embarrassed to ask, and covers issues including sex, drugs, family and death.

Minkin, M. & Rosen-Ritt, L. (1991). Signs for Sexuality: A Resource Manual for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Individuals, their Families, and Professionals (2^nd Ed.). Seattle: Planned Parenthood of Seattle- King County.

This manual contains more than 250 vocabulary terms associated with human sexuality and 600 photos showing signed words and phrases related to sex and sexual health.

Fiction Books

Wheeler S, D. (2005) Aunt Scarlett's Farm.
Waterloo, ON, Canada: Sureen Publishing.

Experiencing childhood with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, (CMT) is anything but dull for eight year old Peggy Thompkin. Although she walks with the aid of a cane and wears plastic AFO leg braces, Peggy embraces each day as high-spirited as the racehorses on her Great Aunt Scarlett's farm. Orphaned at the age of four, Peggy was quickly adopted by her widowed Great Aunt. A no-nonsense, non-coddling parent, Aunt Scarlett models for Peggy the virtues of gentle strength. Surrounded by a menagerie of animals, Peggy pulls her own weight and follows all the important farm rules. Faced with daunting schoolyard ridicule by three notorious bullyboys, Peggy learns to conquer obstacles that come her way. Together, readers walk with Peggy step by step and experience the physical and emotional challenges and triumphs of life with a progressive neuromuscular disease.

Films

Shameless: The ART of Disability. (2006) Run time: 71 minutes and 31 seconds Rating: NR (Not Rated)

The National Film Board of Canada has a wide variety of free to order films in the documentary format with Canadian content on a wide range of topics including physical disabilities, mental health, adoption, foster parents and other issues related to the physical disability field.

Online Resources

Alberta Health Services
Talking About Sexuality in Calgary Communities

Seventh Street Plaza
14th Floor, North Tower
10030 - 107 Street NW
Edmonton, AB TSJ 3E4
Toll free: 1-888-342-2471
Telephone: 780-342-2000
Fax: 780-342-2060
Email: info@tascc.ca

Teaching sexualhealth.ca website by Alberta Health Services provides sexual health education lesson plans, ideas and support for educators, including a section on diverse learners. Talking About Sexuality in Calgary Communities website contains information for service providers working with youth and includes a section about youth with disabilities.

Canadian Federation for Sexual Health -Sexuality and Physical Disabilities

2197 Riverside Drive, Suite 403
Ottawa, ON  K1H 7X3
Telephone: 613-241-4474
Fax: 613-241-7550
Email: admin@cfsh.ca

The Canadian Federation for Sexual Health envisions a global society that celebrates healthy sexuality, its diversity of expression and reproductive choice as fundamental human rights for individuals throughout life.

Cystic Fibrosis Canada - Sexuality and Cystic Fibrosis: Information for Adolescents (PDF Document)

2221 Yonge Street, Suite 601
Toronto, ON  M4S 2B4
Toll free: 1-800-378-2233
Telephone: 416-485-9149
Fax: 416-485-0960
Email: info@cysticfibrosis.ca

Cystic Fibrosis Canada has published a manual on sexuality and adolescents with cystic fibrosis. It also has a similar manual for adults and other sexuality information on its website.

Sexuality and U (The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada) - Teaching Sex Ed for Youth with Physical Disabilities

780 Echo Drive
Ottawa, ON  K1S 5R7
Toll Free: 1-800-561-2416
Telephone: 613-730-4192
Fax: 613-730-4314
Email: helpdesk@sogc.com

Sexuality and U is committed to providing credible and up-to-date information and education on sexual health including tips and strategies for working with youth with physical disabilities.