Lives changed by sex education

A SEX and relationships programme for autistic students will run permanently at South Nottingham College after being hailed as a national benchmark.

Fiona Speirs, of Arnold, has tailored a programme for students with Asperger's syndrome, which is a condition on the autistic spectrum.

Mrs Speirs was highly commended in the Pamela Sheridan Awards, a national prize for excellence in sex and relationships education run by the Family Planning Association (fpa).

The programme helps young people to form relationships and helps them to come to terms with Asperger's.

By working in partnership with parents and carers the programme also explored sensitive issues such as safety on the internet, concepts of public and private behaviour and inappropriate use of sexual language.

Mrs Speirs said: "People with Asperger's are predominantly visual thinkers and need to be given access to the right information that is presented visually alongside verbal teaching.

"It has enabled students to have a better awareness of their own sexuality and the social norms and laws that govern sexual expression with others."

The programme will now receive £250 of fpa resources.

Through tailored group and one-to-one sessions, it improved the self esteem and confidence of all nine students with Asperger's syndrome.

Terri Ryland, director of practice development at the fpa, said: "This is a great example of how to deliver a very specialised sex and relationships programme.

"The college and consultant used a range of resources and mediums to deliver to the group very effectively."

Fliss Ward, autism support coordinator at South Nottingham College, said: "The programme that Fiona delivered was great fun, lively and engaging and brightened up Monday mornings.

"The programme took time to explore all those aspects of sex and relationships that students with Asperger's syndrome often misunderstand or misinterpret.

"She built a rapport with students and encouraged openness and trust so that they talked and shared their ideas.

"After the programme finished, students realised that it was fine to talk to tutors and people that they trusted about relationship issues that confused them."

Asperger's syndrome affects the way people relate to and communicate with others.

They may find it hard to make sense of unwritten social rules and to understand what others are thinking and feeling.

Young people with the syndrome are often isolated from society, not knowing how to behave in social situations, and struggle to form relationships.

Alan Bicknell, head of support programmes at the National Autistic Society, said: "Asperger's syndrome can make young people extremely vulnerable and liable to be exploited.

"Suitable specialised support at the right time can make an enormous difference to people's lives.

"A course like this can give people the understanding and confidence to develop and maintain happy and healthy relationships."

michael.greenwell@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk