- This event has passed.
Dating Workshop for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities
December 1, 2023 @ 10:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Cost: FreeEvent Navigation
This event is open to men and women 16 years old and older with an intellectual disability. The workshop covers the following topics:
The People in My Life: Understanding Relationships – We all need people in our lives who are there for a reason. This session focuses on defining 5 key types of relationships (family, helpers, friends, dating partners, and acquaintances) and ways to define their roles.
Don’t Cross The Line! Boundary Basics for Staying Safe and Appropriate in Relationships – In this session participants will learn what a boundary is, why boundaries are important, and how to make decisions about personal space. Using fun activities, they will learn how boundaries can change based on who you are with and where you are. Boundary rules for private body parts will also be shared.
Dating Basics- This session identifies important first steps for beginning a romantic relationship including safe and unsafe ways to find someone, how to let a person know you are interested (flirting how-to’s) and the importance of assessing reciprocity of feelings. Participants will learn ways to decide if a dating relationship is healthy or unhealthy. Using checklists and real- life examples of relationships, we will discuss when to continue or stop relationships.
About the Facilitator
Terri Couwenhoven, M.S. is an AASECT certified sexuality educator who specializes in developing programs and resources for people who have intellectual disabilities, their families and the professionals who support them. She is the author of Teaching Children with Down syndrome about their Bodies, Boundaries and Sexuality: A Guide for Parents and Professionals, The Girls’ Guide to Growing Up: Choices & Changes in the Tween Years, The Boy’s Guide to Growing up: Choices & Changes During Puberty, and Boyfriends & Girlfriends: a Guide to Dating for People with Disabilities.
When she is not teaching or writing, she is Clinic Coordinator for the Down Syndrome Clinic at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. She is the mother of two girls. Her oldest daughter has Down syndrome.
Please register at https://signup.com/go/WQfRgiS. Space is limited.
