Australian Association of Social Workers QLD Online Webinar:
Pregnancy decision making support for women with intellectual disability experiencing violence/reproductive coercion 30th May 2022, Starting 6pm
This community of practice workshop for DFVSA sector, social workers and any interested health practitioners will be facilitated by Kari Vallury (Children by Choice Senior Research Assistant) and Victoria Tucker (WWILD Counsellor) for people who may support pregnancy decision making for people with intellectual disability or learning disability who may also experience reproductive coercion and abuse.
People with disability experience 1.8 times higher rates of violence/abuse, including extreme forms of intimate partner violence/sexual assault, and greater barriers to accessing services. Reproductive coercion is increasingly recognised form of DFV, involving intentional abusive behaviour or strategies aimed at establishing/maintaining control through pregnancy pressure, contraceptive sabotage and pregnancy outcomes. (Miller 2010, Tarzia 2021)
In 2021 Children by Choice and WWILD, funded by WorkUP Queensland, collaborated and conducted a literature review; facilitated 2 focus groups with self-advocates with lived experience of intellectual disability and 3 focus groups with 3 DFVSA services; reviewed existing resources and training modules, co-designed new collaborative training workshop for DFVSA, social workers and allied health professionals. In 2022 we are collaborating on the DASHER project – Design Accessible Sexual Health and E-Resources with People with Intellectual Disabilities, funded by Women and Change project grants.
Specific learning outcomes for participants:
- Early identification of support needs and formal and informal supports that enable pregnancy decision-making autonomy
- Improved understanding that assist with identifying and respond to reproductive coercion and abuse
- Consider disability sexual and reproductive health rights and consider individual, organisational and systemic barriers to autonomy
- Work with clients to improve health literacy (consent, pregnancy, coercion and contraception) towards increased reproductive autonomy.
Event Details:
Date – 30th May 2022
Time – 6 – 7pm
Venue – Online
For further information and registration please go to: https://www.aasw.asn.au/events/event/qld-ol-pregncy-sppt-women-intellctul-disability-violencereproductive-coercion
