TASN-ATBS Webinar: My Body is Just Like Yours: Sexual Health Instruction for Students with Developmental Disabilities (Part 1)

Webinar Description:

This is a 2-part webinar. Part 1 will be held on December 2, and Part 2 on December 9.

These webinars will be presented live on Zoom. All of TASN-ATBS webinars are recorded and then archived on the KSDETASN website and the TASN-ATBS Moodle site.

Part 1: My Body is Just Like Yours: Sexual Health Instruction for Students with Developmental Disabilities

This session will cover instruction of meaningful sexual health skills for students with developmental disabilities. Instructional areas will be identified that are building blocks needed for students to understand and care for their bodies. Sequencing of instruction that is aligned to the social/sexual health instruction provided to students in general education will help teachers assure equitable access for their students. Topics such as anatomy, choice-making, public/private, accessing help, self-advocating, boundaries, and others will be reviewed. These skills are the foundation for preventing problem sexual behavior and victimization.

After attending this webinar, participants will:

• Access and evaluate state social and sexual health standards for all
• Develop meaningful goals and sequence instruction for students around social/sexual health
• Embed self-advocacy and choices into daily routines
• Plan for generalization of instruction to a variety of contexts  

Presenter Information:

Shana Kaplan has been with TASN ATBS since 2020. She is a licensed Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), a certified K–9 general and special education teacher, and an Autism Specialist. Shana holds an MSEd from the University of Kansas Autism Program and brings 32 years of experience as a special educator, with professional experience in both public schools and private residential settings.

Shana’s work is deeply informed by her personal and professional experiences supporting autistic individuals and their families. She is a stepmother to two sons and a grandmother to a grandson with autism. Her passion for sexual health education developed through years of working with students who would have benefited from more proactive, comprehensive, and supportive approaches to sexual health. She is committed to helping educators build the knowledge, confidence, and practical skills needed to better support students in this important area.