Mark Gordon on the Friends and Relationships Course: Teaching and learning from people with intellectual disabilities about sexuality, interdependence, and inclusion
We talk with Mark Gordon, founder of the Friends and Relationships Course, a program in New Mexico that provides classes for adults with intellectual disabilities who want to learn how to form intimate and other relationships. He talks about what he’s learned over 15 years of teaching sexuality classes, learning along with his son about the ongoing necessity for interdependence. We also discuss society’s failure to welcome and accommodate people with developmental disabilities.
Overview
00:00-01:20Intros
01:21-03:45Friends and Relationships course
03:46-05:27Extraordinary and ordinary needs
05:28-10:03Interdependency rather than dependency or independence
10:04-18:04Roles and relationships; curriculum development
18:05-19:41Roles of agencies
19:42-21:57Financing systems
21:58-23:09Advocacy and social change
23:10-26:50 Ethical community
26:51-27:30Outro
Transcription
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