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Workshop “Sexuality and its boundaries” 2025 at the inclusive neighborhood center lindenau

Workshop “Sexuality and its boundaries”

Awareness and educational work in easy language for people with disabilities

On 28 April 2025, reflect.awareness e.V. conducted the workshop “Sexuality and Its Boundaries” at the Inclusive Neighborhood Center Lindenau that is part of the Mobile Disability Service Leipzig e.V.. 
The workshop was specifically designed for people with disabilities and implemented in Easy Language. Its goal was to create a safe, understandable, and respectful space where sexuality, boundaries, and sexualized violence could be openly discussed.

Sexuality concerns all people. At the same time, people with disabilities are disproportionately affected by boundary violations and sexualized violence. For this reason, it was especially important to us to make knowledge accessible, strengthen self-determination, and provide concrete strategies for action.

Pedagogical framework and sensitization

The workshop began with a sensitization phase in which we jointly established rules for the space: respectful interaction, active listening, voluntary participation, and the option to leave at any time. No one was required to say or do anything that felt uncomfortable. A “Easy Language Card” was available for comprehension questions.

This clear framework was essential to establish safety and build trust—particularly given the sensitive topics of intimacy and personal experience.

Content: Sexuality, boundaries and self-determination

We first explored questions such as: What is sexuality? What does it mean for each individual? Between whom does it occur, and what is important in these interactions? The focus was not on normative answers but on diversity, voluntariness, and mutual respect.

A central emphasis was placed on boundaries. Together, participants explored:

  • What personal boundaries are,
  • Where physical, emotional, private, and digital boundary violations can occur,
  • Why boundaries matter—for safety, respect, self-determination, and healthy relationships,
  • And that saying “no” is always allowed.

A core message was clear: every person has the right to decide what they want—and is obliged to respect the boundaries of others.

Methods: Practice, reflection and action confidence

The workshop was interactive and practical. In small groups, participants engaged in exercises on active listening, personal experiences with boundary violations, and concrete situations where boundaries need to be asserted or protected. Voluntariness and self-protection were central throughout.

In another exercise, participants practiced clearly communicating boundaries and respectfully accepting a “no.” We used concrete examples, gestures, facial expressions, and simple, clear sentences that can be applied in everyday life.

These exercises were not designed for confrontation, but to strengthen confidence in action—preparing participants for situations they might encounter in their daily lives.

Impact and significance

The workshop “Sexuality and Its Boundaries” demonstrated the importance of barrier-free educational offerings on sexualized violence, consent, and self-determination. Many participants were able to find words for their own boundaries for the first time and develop concrete strategies for self-protection in everyday life.

The workshop is part of our broader awareness and prevention work and complements publications such as “My Boundaries, Your Boundaries” with an interactive, dialogical educational component. It helps empower people, make discrimination visible, and promote self-determined, respectful interaction.