Inclusive Menstrual Care for Adolescents
VIRTUAL Project Equip Training
Description:
The training covers the basics of menstrual health and hygiene, common student needs and challenges, and the impact of period stigma and period poverty on learning and well-being. Participants will explore practical strategies for supporting students, including access to menstrual products, trauma-informed and inclusive language, policy considerations, and how to respond appropriately to student questions or concerns. The session also addresses equity, cultural sensitivity, and confidentiality in school settings.
Key Topics:
Period Poverty (in the U.S. & Oklahoma)
Proper Usage/Disposal of Menstrual Products (disposable/reusable)
Supporting Adolescents with Autism & Other Developmental Challenges
How to Create Inclusive/Stigma-free Access to Menstrual Products
Specific Skills for Participants:
Practical Knowledge: Participants will build foundational menstrual health literacy, including understanding typical menstrual experiences, adolescent period poverty, the effects of stigma on learning, and the importance of equity, confidentiality, and policy-aligned support in school settings.
Neurodiversity & Autism: Participants will gain insight into how menstruation may uniquely affect students with autism, including sensory sensitivities, communication differences, emotional regulation challenges, and the need for predictable, supportive responses.
Practical Skills: Participants will develop the ability to communicate about menstruation using inclusive, age-appropriate language, respond effectively to student needs or emergencies, recognize when support is needed, and apply trauma-informed, student-centered approaches.
Tools & Strategies: Participants will gain access to practical tools such as clear product access procedures, response scripts for common scenarios, resource referral pathways, and school-based strategies that promote consistency, dignity, and stigma reduction.
Overall Outcome: Participants will leave confident and prepared to support menstrual care in schools, ensuring that menstruation does not act as a barrier to student participation, well-being, or academic success.