The Elevatus Training Program
And why I love it.
It has been almost a month to the day since I last wrote about the training that I took.
A lot has happened since then and it’s taken me a little while to put it all together into thoughts that are coherent. Mostly coherent.
I just don’t think I’ve ever had an experience where it really feels like the universe is working for me, and not only that, but the real people in my real life are also helping out. It catches you off guard when you decide to change your life and nothing gets in the way.
ANYWAY. I’m so excited to share with you some info about the Elevatus Training program and why I fell so in love with it.
Right of the bat, this training was created in conjunction with Green Mountain Self-Advocates, who are people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities(I/DD). The motto of “Nothing about us without us” was repeated several times through my three days of training. As someone who comes from a disability background, just in a a different sphere, this was something that really got me amped. So many things in this world are created for people with disabilities but those very people aren’t even consulted in the process. This is different.
This curriculum is designed to be team taught, meaning I need to have a co-teacher and that person needs to be someone who lives with ID/D. In the training call I was silently nodding my ahead in approval when they explained this but inside I was like LET’S GO!! Not only were the people of this community behind creating this curriculum but they guaranteed it’s integrity by requiring a member to be there each time it is taught. YES. YES. YES.
The training guide is about 450 pages long1 not only because its very thorough but because it covers more than just the biology of sex and intercourse. This training goes into how to be a good partner, how to know if you’re ready for a relationship and so many more things that make us whole and complete partners. This is the training WE ALL should have gotten. This program is designed for people with ID/D but every single person alive could have learned a lot about the care and maintenance of relationships if we had had training like this when we were younger. Or even now for some of us….
This training is trauma-informed. Here’s a quick run down if you’re not clear on the term trauma-informed. This is really important to me. On so many levels. It became a lot more important to me the further we got into the training and the more I learned about the prevalence of sexual assault and abuse on those within the ID/D community. 7 times. They are 7 times more likely to be assaulted than those living without disabilities. SEVEN TIMES. Combine that with a resistance to teaching this community about sexual health and wellness and we now have the perfect storm of a vulnerable community that has not been given the verbiage or framework to report their abuse.
This fact took my breath away. I really wanted to get into this field because I think everyone deserves this information. I wanted to help people learn about sex and enjoy sex, no matter who they are. This was the hill I planned to die on. But it’s all so much bigger now.
In the training two of our instructors mentioned being called as expert witnesses in court cases about this very topic. This is real shit. Teaching people with ID/D gives them knowledge about what is right and wrong in sexual situations, it also gives them the words to explain what is happening to them and is a lifeline for getting help. This is bigger than just helping people have good sex, this is about keeping people safe.
The training itself is 22 lessons long, and usually taught over the course of 22 weeks. There are so many thoughtful details in this training and I am very excited an honored to be someone who can teach it.
And teach it, I will. I have a few contacts I need to reach out to but if things keep going the way they are going, I will be in front of an eager crowd before I know it! I’ve had a one-on-one meeting with the woman who ran the training to talk about who/what/when/where/how I can get started and she gave me a slew of the best contacts I could have ever imagined. I still need to reach out to them all but I’m trying to pace myself so I don’t get overwhelmed.
Because p.s. I plan to start school in early December. The ball is rolling and it’s picking up speed so much faster than I imagined!
Now that this program is done, I’m going to go read some stuff that is fun and interesting again. Keep your eyes peeled for more fun, historical sex facts.
Also this manual costs $300 to purchase so if anyone wants to do ya girl a solid, now accepting sponsors!
Congrats on your progress, I am so excited for you!