Great advances have been made in the last two decades in teaching sexual health education to individuals with disabilities and this means we are making advances toward recognizing Individuals with disabilities as self-determined individuals with autonomy and rights over their bodies. But while we have done much to illuminate the need for sexual health education for individuals with disabilities and identify existing barriers, our next steps must be in researching the most effective ways to provide it. Current research indicates that we should take a two-pronged approach: prepare both parents and educators to work together and be able to provide knowledgeable, appropriate sexual health education to students with disabilities.
The need for sexual health education #
Sexual health education includes the teaching of issues relating to human sexuality including human sexual anatomy, sexual reproduction, sexual intercourse, or other sexual activity, reproductive health, emotional relations, reproductive rights and responsibilities, abstinence, and birth control. Common avenues for sexual health education are parents or caregivers, formal school programs, and public health campaigns.
Educating IWD about sexual health issues is critical for their own personal health, safety, and because as with any individual, they are entitled to self-agency to make decisions about their own bodies.
Preparing teachers #
A significant barrier to teaching sexual health to students with disabilities is the teacher’s discomfort with the topic and a general lack of pre-service and/or in-service preparation
The only way to move through this barrier is to have the teacher become comfortable with the uncomfortable. Below, we will provide an example from our own experience as teacher educators that addresses this issue.
Preparing parents #
It is recognized that the most effective means of proving sexual health education to SWD involve partnerships between parents/caregivers and education professionals. This will be especially true in cultures in which parents prefer to be the main provider of sexual health information to their children, but perhaps are unsure of what information to provide or when
Additionally, collaborating with parents/caregivers on functional life skills that students will need as they transition into adult life is already a recognized evidence-based practice so including sexual health education along with the discussion on job skills and independent living may make it a more comfortable conversation for parents to have with educators.
Responses