The main objectives of the LovABLE project were: -to develop and apply high quality early childhood sex education for children with disabilities and those with special educational needs, so that they can better understand their body, boundaries, emotions and everyday situations related to safety, relationships and self-determination -to support teachers and professionals working with these children, by giving them concrete methods, training and material they can actually use in the classroom, helping them move beyond hesitation and deal with topics that are often considered difficult or avoided in practice -to increase the inclusion of children with disabilities in sex education, as in many cases the available material is not adapted and these children do not have equal opportunities to access this type of learning In addition, the project also aimed: -to involve parents, carers and the wider school community, as they also need support on how to approach these topics and respond to questions that come up in everyday situations
Although sex education is increasingly included in school curricula across Europe, it is still not effectively implemented for children with disabilities and those with special educational needs. In many cases, the material available is not adapted and the topic is either addressed superficially or not applied in practice . Children with disabilities are also at least twice as likely to experience abuse, which makes early education on these issues even more necessary. From the partners’ experience, teachers often feel unsure when dealing with topics such as body awareness, consent, hygiene or relationships. This is mainly due to the lack of training and practical material they can actually use in class. As a result, the topic is often avoided or approached differently by each educator. The same applies to parents and carers, who are not always supported in how to handle these discussions within the family environment or in cooperation with schools. LovABLE was designed as a practical response to this situation, offering a simple and adaptable methodology, based on playful, interactive and safe approaches, that can be easily applied both in the classroom and within the wider school community.