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Everyone Can Learn

https://youtu.be/jv3PpiItWf0

Heather Simmons shares an insightful story illuminating the idea that people of all abilities have the ability to learn giving the opportunity.

Although Heather was originally from Scotland she now lives in Perth Australia where, with her husband Richard Hill, they operate a company called h2 Training and Consulting that focuses on training staff who work with and for people with disabilities.

Heather has worked extensively in diverse roles with the disability sector since 1994. Including roles as a support worker, group home manager, team leader, and development worker.

Heather has many stories to tell… and her passion is working in the ‘grey areas’ of human services. She loves the challenge of finding ways of applying the ideas she talks about everyday to the day to day practice of working in the disability.

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How Not to Handle Rejection

Enjoy this short excerpt from our series of Side by Side modules on Relationships, Dating, and Intimacy written by Dave Hingsburger. There is no “best way” to deal with rejection, but there are a lot of bad ways. The module goes on to explain how to handle rejection in the right way and how it’s okay to be hurt and embarrassed by rejection as long as you conduct yourself well.

Side by Side modules allow people who receive support and people who provide support to use the time they spend together, to learn together.

Dave Hingsburger has worked for over 35 years in the field of sexuality and intellectual disabilities. Dave has worked in a variety of positions during that time, but has always worked directly with people with disabilities in some capacity. At present, he is the Director of Clinical and Educational Supports at Vita Community Living Services in Toronto.

Dave Hingsburger has written many books and journal articles, and writes an award winning disability blog. Dave lectures at the national and international level on a broad range of intellectual disability related topics. In 2009 Dave was inducted into the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame.

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A Thought about Sex and Disability

https://youtu.be/H_Yk-wSyU3Q

SEX…have I got your attention? In this video, Gary Kent gives everyone something to think about. Kent sheds light on the idea of how people with disabilities have a lack of control over their own lifes. His blunt and straightforward example of how even the opportunity to have sexual relations is controlled by others, gives us all something to think about.