It follows on from the outcomes of the SEAD project (Sexual Education for Adults with Disabilities), which developed tools and materials for sex education in cooperation with people with disabilities. TRASE therefore seeks to develop and evaluate how best to use adapted and creative tools to maximise the engagement and understanding of persons with learning difficulties. This ultimate objective is to empower them by giving them access to essential information about sex, sexuality and relationships.
Professionals agree that a training course is necessary for people who conduct sexual education for people with intellectual disabilities. TRASE offers a stepping stone in giving Europeans with learning disabilities the possibility to make informed personal choices, including the choice to engage in romantic relationships, get married and start a family.
Article 23 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) provides that people with learning disabilities have a right to “found a family”, “freely decide on the number and spacing of children” and “retain their fertility on an equal basis with others”. Furthermore, Article 25 on Health, upholds that “free and informed consent” must be the basis of providing healthcare, including reproductive health.
Autism-Europe joins forces with six other partners for the purpose of this project. The TRASE partners are the following: Hochschule Merseburg, University of Applied Sciences (Germany), Agrupamento de Escolas de Oliveira do Bairro (Portugal), Kauno neigaliojo jaunimo uzimtumo centras (Lithuania), ELearning Studios (United Kingdom), Université de Luxembourg (Luxemburg), Institute for Sex Education Vienna (Austria).
About the Erasmus+ Programme
Erasmus+ is the EU’s programme to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe. Its budget of €14.7 billion will provide opportunities for over 4 million Europeans to study, train, gain experience, and volunteer abroad.