Hey {{ FirstName | default: 'Friend' }} - in this email we will share:
- Parent Focus Group on Dating
- Spotlight on SOV
- June is Pride Month
- Youth Advisory Board Connection
- Exercising in the Water
- Books about Disability and LGBTQ+
- Upcoming Events
You can always connect with DSHN in other ways, too:
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DSHN Parent Focus Group on Dating
Virginia parents of youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities aged 12 to 15, join Disability-inclusive Sexual Health Network staff at James Madison University for a focus group about dating. The purpose of this focus group is to allow parents' lived experiences to inform the development of programming and resources to support them and their youth in navigating dating and healthy relationships.
This is an online interactive event, with two opportunities to join so pick the date that works best for you! Participants will receive a $50 Mastercard gift card.
Tuesday June 7, 6-7:30pm EST
OR
Wednesday June 22, 6-7:30pm EST
Register by completing the Interest Form
For more info visit sexedva.org/pfg
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The Special Olympics Virginia mission remains as vital today as it did when the movement was founded 50 years ago in 1968. We provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. This gives them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
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Since 2000 Special Olympics Virginia has been providing extensive health services to individuals with intellectual disabilities through the Special Olympics Healthy Athlete program. Healthy Athletes is the largest global public health organization dedicated The Healthy Athlete Center at the 2022 Summer Games will feature the Opening Eyes program, the Healthy Hearing Program, the Fun Fitness program, the Special Smile program, the Health Promotion program and various healthy organizations. Each Healthy athlete discipline provides critical services that are often not available readily to athletes with intellectual disabilities. Despite a mistaken belief that people with intellectual disabilities receive the same or better healthcare than others, they typically receive sub-standard care, or virtually no healthcare at all. As a result, people with intellectual disabilities are at an increased risk for poorer health and preventable health conditions. People with intellectual disabilities re 2 times as likely to be obese, 4 times likely to be less active, 5 times more likely to have diabetes, 2 times more likely to have cardiovascular disease and asthma and have a life expectancy on average that is reduce by 20 years. The Healthy Athlete Center and the activity provided through Special Olympics helps combat that and improve the quality of life for people with intellectual disabilities.
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The 2022 Special Olympics Virginia Summer Games are June 10 and 11 at the University of Richmond. Events include softball, bowling, tennis, track and field, and swimming. The opening ceremony is June 10, 7-8:30pm at Robins Stadium. Come support the athletes at this year's Summer Games. The athletes appreciate your applause, support, and encouragement. Every event at Summer Games is free to the public, so make a sign, gather friends and family, and come out to the most inspiring event in Richmond!
SOV Summer Games Event Guide
SOV Summer Games Event Schedule
SOV Summer Games Volunteer SignUp
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Please reach out to dshn@jmu.edu to share resources that would be useful for folks in our network, or for more resources on any specific topic.
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Celebrate Pride with these events, happenings, and volunteer opportunities. Then check out our resources list for LGBTQ+ folks with disabilities.
GLSEN TQA Pride: Youth and Educator LQBTQ+ Summit
- GLSEN works to ensure every member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. This is a virtual summit conference.
- June 16, 9am MT
- GLSEN facebook event page
Virginia Pride Endless Summer of Pride
- Starting June 1, Virginia Pride kicks off Pride Month with a series of more than 20 events, extending through September, culminating in PrideFest 2022!
- These events will engage community partners, municipal leaders, and cultural institutions, with something for everyone.
- VaPride.org
Night of Illusion Pride Edition
- This in-person family friendly drag show will feature lots of performances from local celebrities. Organized by Arts Council of the Valley.
- June 10, 8pm EST
- Court Square Theater; Downtown Harrisonburg, Va
- Night of Illusion Event
Loudoun Pride Pride Festival
- This in-person festival features performances, community vendors, food, music, and more!
- June 26, 1-8pm EST
- Proceeds go to Equity in Education and Loudoun LGBTQ+ Defense Fund
- Heritage Farm Museum; Sterling, Va
- Loudoun Pride
Hampton Roads Pride Pride Month Kick-off Party
- This in-person festival features performances, community outreach partners, local vendors, food, live bands, and more! This event kicks-off months of Pride events happening in the Hampton Roads area and nearby communities.
- June 4, 10am-10pm EST
- MJ's Tavern; Norfolk, Va
- Hampton Roads Pride
For volunteer opportunities, contact:
Shenandoah LGBTQ Center Staunton, Va
Volunteers can choose to help with staff drop-in hours, organize and keep our center looking beautiful, teach classes and workshops, and/or serve on support committees which include health and human services, programming, events, financial, and legal.
LGBT Life Center Norfolk, Va
Volunteers can choose to help with administrative tasks, special events, programming, and/or outreach activities.
Shenandoah Valley Pride Harrisonburg, Va
Volunteers are essential to making Shenandoah Valley pride a success. Consider lending us your time and talents!
AGLA Northern Virginia
A grassroots organization that welcomes community involvement. Volunteers can help with different tasks from administrative to committees and events.
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Resources throughout the newsletter are labeled as follows:
[t]=text [v]=video [a]=audio [l]=list [w]=website
[w] Rooted in Rights Navigating the twists and turns of healthcare as a trans disabled person.
[t] DREDF Health disparities at the intersection of disability and gender identity
[w] Respect Ability Articles, books, and other resources on the intersection of disability and LGBTQ+ issues
[w] Philadelphia Gay News The intersection of LGBTQ+ history and disability
[w] them Why the LGBTQ+ community must fight for disability rights
[v] Celebrating Disabled LGBTQ+ Voices in Media information, resources, statistics, and tips to bring awareness to the sexual abuse against people with I/DD
[t] LGBT History: Disability, Disabled People, and Disability Movements
[a] Disability Justice is LGBTQ+ Justice A conversation with movement leaders. Find the written transcript of this podcast here
[w] CenterLink Leadership development, programs, and a directory for LGBTQ+ centers in Virginia
[t] Queer and Now! Pride Month Toolkit Actions to take this month, movie and documentaries to watch, LGBTQ+ themed podcasts, suggested social media, and lots of resources!
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Tip: Use YouTube's media player controls to make videos more accessible. Find out how at the links below:
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Youth
Advisory
Board
Connection
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Content for this section of the newsletter provided by the Disability-inclusive Sexual Health Network Youth Advisory Board
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101 Guide for Pride:
This 101 Guide for Pride checklist is a compilation of advice for parents/caregivers of LGBTQ+ and disabled people, both youth and adults. This was compiled by LGBTQ+ Youth Advisory Board members based on their own experiences and research. Pride is practiced most of the time not in the streets, but every day by people daring to be themselves. We celebrate Pride one month a year, but it is also a daily practice, and being LGBTQ+ is a part of who we are every day of our lives. Check out our YAB presentation on Autism and LGBTQ+ to learn more!
Year Round:
1. Always validate and respect people's gender identity and sexuality.
LGBTQ+ youth whose families affirm their gender identity and sexual orientation are almost 50 percent less likely to make a suicide attempt.
Some health professionals pathologize disabled people's sexuality and gender identities. It is important to advocate for your child, whether that means educating the doctor or finding a new one. Your child has a right to have their gender and sexuality respected by their health team.
2. Expand personal views of what LGBTQ+ people look like.
For example, you can be nonbinary or a trans man and love Hello Kitty and pink! What is important is how people identify, not what stereotypes they fit.
3. Talk openly with your children, fostering a safe space for them to express their needs and questions. Provide accurate and affirming education about gender and sexuality.
4. Being both disabled and LGBTQ+ can make it harder to feel understood and accepted by each of these communities, but there are communities for people who are both (and for their parents/caregivers). Consider joining one!
5. Add some LGBTQ+ related books to your and/or your child's libraries!
6. Remember that stress and mental health issues can be related to gender dysphoria or lack of validation, and seek an LGBTQ+ friendly therapist for support if your child is struggling.
7. Check out these adaptive options for some Gender Affirming Gear.
8. Download relevant AAC terms to talk about sexuality and relationships.
9. Be human. There is no need to treat your children differently because they have announced their sexuality. Make sure they feel cared for and human.
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Tips for people with disabilities attending Pride events:
Before The Event
- Bring along a flyer or info about the schedule so you can stay organized about where and when each event is happening.
- Seek info in advance about accessible bathrooms, medical tents, allergen precautions, and sensory rooms.
- Determine how you and your child will communicate during the event in case it is loud, such as using text messages.
- Check if local disability groups are attending Pride. Sometimes The ARC in your area will be attending!
During The Event
- Be respectful towards others, without making judgements about people's presentation or appearance.
- Step back to give space to LGBTQ+ people to celebrate themselves. This day is about them.
- If accompanying your child or client, give space for them to enjoy and interact, respecting their autonomy and individuality. Ask what activities they want to do, and allow them space to change their mind.
- Take breaks for food, bathrooms, and sensory regulation.
What To Bring
- Water, pedialyte, or sports drinks with electrolytes to deal with the heat. Bring your own straws, if needed.
- Snacks, juice boxes, etc. Better to bring more than you think you'll need, than not enough.
- Towel to sit or lie down on, if needed.
- Headphones, noise cancelling can be helpful.
- Fan. For wheelchair users, a stroller fan can be useful.
- Chargers for electronic equipment
- Sensory and stim toys. It is ok to bring more than you would for a smaller outing. Pride is generally pretty busy and loud, and can be overstimulating.
- Take breaks for food, bathrooms, and sensory regulation.
- Mini First Aid kit. Any needed medical equipment.
Special thanks to our Youth Advisory Board!
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The water is a great place to exercise. Not only is it fun and refreshing in the summer heat, but the resistance of the water offers a good workout for your muscles and and strengthens your aerobic capacity.
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Take a Water Workout Class
Most facilities with a pool offer aqua exercise classes, so take advantage! You'll get to use water dumbbells to strengthen muscles and learn new aerobic moves to increase your heartrate.
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Unstructured Pool Time
Play time in the pool is great exercise! You can play tag, have races, or splash around with others. Or just get in and move around in any way that works for you.
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Swim Laps
June 24th is Swim A Lap Day!
No need to wait until the 24th, though. Swimming laps is one of the best exercises for anyone, but especially for those with limited mobility, joint issues, or muscle weakness.
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Play Games
Basketball, volleyball, and polo are all great sports to play in the water. You can modify the games based on the equipment or number of people you have.
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Check out these books about LGBTQ+ and Disability
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Click on the underlined book title to learn more!
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Crip Theory by Robert McRuer. Cultural Signs of Queerness and Disability. A bold and contemporary discourse of the intersection of disability studies and queer studies.
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Young, Disabled, and LGBTQ+
by Alex Toft & Anita Franklin.
This book focuses on the lives and voices of young LGBTQ+ people, featuring their artwork, poetry, and writings.
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Body, Remember: A Memoir
by Kenny Fries.
A poetic, introspective memoir in which the author illustrates his intersecting identities as gay, Jewish, and disabled.
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Every month we will highlight a few events relevant to disability-inclusive sexual health and education. Follow our Google Calendar to view these and many more events, updated often!
Are you aware of or hosting an event you think would be relevant? Send/forward event info to dshn@jmu.edu!
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PEATC Parent and Youth Engagement Summit
- This in person summit is an exciting opportunity for youth with disabilities (ages 12-22) and their parents to gain valuable information from topic experts and exhibitors and to network and connect with other families. Youth and parents will leave this summit empowered by the experience and better able to advocate for their future.
- This year's summit will include some great info for building sexual health and wellness skills for youth with disabilities.
- August 6, 8am-2:30pm
- PEATC Summit website
- Great Wolf Lodge, Williamsburg, VA
Mad Hatter Wellness
- Register for the Parent/Caregiver Support Call June 27, 1-2pm EST. A time for parents and caregivers to discuss relationship and sexual health concerns with Kim Rossow, Parent & Caregiver Education Specialist. All calls are hosted on zoom and are free for participants.
Elevatus Tinder, Grindr, & More
- This is a live, virtual training program for professionals, self advocates, and sexuality educators who work with people with I/DD. This interactive workshop explores how to support people with I/DD in the safe use of dating apps.
- June 9, 2-3:30pm EST
- Elevatus registration
Elevatus/PEATC Teaching Consent
- This is a live, virtual training program for professionals, self advocates, and sexuality educators who work with people with I/DD. This interactive workshop explores the reasons why people with I/DD are at risk for sexual violence and shares tips and strategies for teaching giving and getting consent.
- June 13, 6pm EST
- Elevatus registration
Elevatus/PEATC Special Education Workshop Series
- This is a live, virtual workshop series for parents and professionals who want to learn more about special education in Virginia. Join one or more workshops.
- June 8, 6:30pm EST; Measurable IEP Goals
- June 22, 6:30pm EST; How To Talk So Schools Will Listen
- Elevatus registration
PEATC Understanding the Dynamics of Cyberbullying
- During this online, interactive workshop, we will discuss the types of cyberbullying, learn the warning signs, and explore the motivations of those who in engage in cyberbullying.
- Will provide tips and strategies to address cyberbullying when individuals with disabilities are involved.
- June 14, 6:30-7:30pm
- PEATC Cyberbullying Registration
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