Disability, Neurodiversity and Sexuality in Out of Home Care (OOHC)

Capability Level: Established

This workshop focuses on supporting young people with disabilities in the out-of-home care (OOHC) sector, with a particular emphasis on sexuality, protective behaviors, and trauma-informed care. Participants will explore key strategies to engage young people in conversations about body safety and consent, navigate the complexities of NDIS-funded supports, and use co-regulation techniques to handle trauma-related behaviors. By the end of the workshop, social workers will have the tools to create safer, more supportive environments for vulnerable young people.

Who should attend? 

This workshop is suitable for social workers at an intermediate to advanced level who work with young people in out-of-home care, particularly those with disabilities. It is also ideal for social workers looking to deepen their understanding of trauma-informed care, protective behaviors, and disability-specific approaches in practice.

This Workshop is not recorded, however, you will have access to materials and resources on AASW Online Learning for 4 weeks after the completion of the workshop.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this program, participants will be able to:

1. Identify the unique vulnerabilities of neurodivergent and disabled young people in OOHC and how this relates to CSA risk.
2. Apply co-regulation techniques during sensitive conversations around body safety and sexuality.
3. Implement protective behavior strategies tailored to the needs of youth with a disability, ensuring ongoing safety and well-being.

Event structure

Learning Session 1: Disability, CSA, and OOHC

• Why a Disability-Specific Lens is Important: Explore how a disability-specific approach ensures tailored interventions.
• Statistics on CSA and Disability: Present current statistics highlighting the risk factors for young people with disabilities.
• OOHC, CSA, and Disability Intersection: Discuss the specific vulnerabilities faced by disabled youth in out-of-home care.

Activity 1: Case Study on CSA in OOHC

• Participants will work in groups to analyze a case study of a neurodivergent young person who has experienced CSA in OOHC.
• Debrief: Group discussion on how to apply a disability-specific approach to support this young person.

Learning Session 2: Trauma-Informed Care and Co-Regulation

• Trauma and Neurodiversity: How trauma manifests in neurodivergent youth.
• Co-Regulation Techniques: Teach techniques for co-regulating with young people during difficult conversations.
• Three Tips for Self-Regulation: Practical strategies for workers to maintain calm during challenging interactions.

Activity 2: Co-Regulation Role-Play

• Participants will practice co-regulation techniques in pairs, focusing on handling trauma-triggering conversations.
• Debrief: Discussion on the importance of maintaining self-regulation in high-stress situations.

Break (10 minutes)

Learning Session 3: Current Challenges in OOHC for Disabled Youth

• Challenges with NDIS and Behavioral Supports: Review barriers to accessing and implementing behavioral supports through NDIS.
• What’s Working Well? Highlight successes in supporting young people in OOHC.
• What Could Be Done Better? Identify areas where improvements are needed, such as better integration of supports across services.

Activity 3: Problem Solving on Support Implementation

• Groups will brainstorm solutions for improving the implementation of behavioral supports in OOHC settings.
• Debrief Groups share their solutions and reflect on systemic barriers.

Learning Session 4: Protective Behaviors and Body Safety

• What Are Protective Behaviors? Define protective behaviors and why they are crucial in OOHC.
• Protective Behavior Themes:

Activity 4: Protective Behavior Role-Play

• Participants practice teaching protective behaviors using visual aids or social stories.
• Debrief: Discuss challenges in introducing protective behavior concepts to neurodivergent young people.

Wrap-Up and Reflection

• Summary of Key Learnings: Reflect on how the skills and strategies from the workshop can be applied in practice.
• Q&A: Open the floor to participant questions.

Additional resources

Participants will be provided with a curated list of resources, including protective behavior visual aids, trauma-informed care guidelines, and suggested reading on neurodiversity and body safety.

AASW Credentials: Disability and Mental Health.