This summary addresses sex education for youth who live with physical and/or mental disabilities—including, but not limited to hearing, sight, and motor function impairments; Down syndrome; cerebral palsy; paraplegia and quadriplegia; developmental disorders; and mental health issues. Beginning with a few statistics on disability among youth and an overview of common myths and facts about the sexuality of people living with disabilities, the document also provides general guidelines for parents of physically or mentally challenged children and youth and offers a select, annotated bibliography of sex education materials and resources.*
Are Disabilities Common among Children and Youth?
Myths and Facts about Sexuality and Disability
Many people believe myths about the sexuality of people who live with disabilities. Common myths:
• People with disabilities do not feel the desire to have sex.
• People with developmental and physical abilities are child-like and dependent.
• People with disabilities are oversexed and unable to control their sexual urges.[7]
Myth 1: People with disabilities are not sexual. All people—including young people—are sexual beings, regardless of whether or not they live with physical, mental, or emotional disabilities. And, all people need affection, love and intimacy, acceptance, and companionship.[6,7] At the same time, children and youth who live with disabilities may have some unique needs related to sex education. For example, children with developmental disabilities may learn at a slower rate than do their non-disabled peers; yet their physical maturation usually occurs at the same rate. As a result of normal physical maturation and slowed emotional and cognitive development, they may need sex education that builds skills for appropriate language and behavior in public. In another example, paraplegic youth may need reassurance that they can have satisfying sexual relationships and practical guidance on how to do so
Myth 2: People with disabilities are childlike and dependent. This idea may arise from a belief that a disabled person is somehow unable to participate equally in an intimate relationship. Societal discomfort—both with sexuality and also with the sexuality of people who live with disabilities—may mean that it is easier to view anyone who lives with disabilities as an ‘eternal child.’ This demeaning view ignores the need to acknowledge the young person’s sexuality and also denies her/his full humanity]
Myth 3: People with disabilities cannot control their sexuality. This myth spins off the other two—if people with disabilities are neither asexual nor child-like, then they perhaps they are ‘oversexed’ and have ‘uncontrollable urges’. Belief in this myth can result in a reluctance to provide sex education for youth with disabilities. The reality is that education and training are key to promoting healthy and mutually respectful behavior, regardless of the young person’s abilities
Why Should Parents Be Concerned about Sex Education for Their Disabled Children?
Parents are, or should be, their children’s primary sex educators, but many parents are afraid to talk to their children (disabled or not) about sex. Parents often fear that: 1) talking about sex will encourage sexual experimentation; 2) they (the parents) don’t know enough to handle questions appropriately; and 3) their children already know too much or too little. In addition, parents of children who are living with disabilities may feel that their children are potential targets for sexual abuse or exploitation. Or the parents may fear that their children may be unable to appropriately express their sexual feelings.
In short, parents often fear that talking about sex may cause problems. But, parents need to assist any child—regardless of her/his abilities—to develop life skills. For example, without appropriate social skills, young people may have difficulty making and keeping friends and feel lonely and ‘different’. Without important sexual health knowledge, young people may make unwise decisions and/or take sexual health risks.
General Guidelines for Parents
1. To begin with, acknowledge that everyone, including your child, is sexual—and has sexuality related emotions and desires.
2. Before you start a conversation with your child, make sure you know your own values and beliefs. Be honest with yourself.
3. Be ready to assert your personal privacy boundaries. For example, say forthrightly, if asked, that you will not discuss your own private sexual behavior.
4. Start talking with your children about sexuality while they are very young. Do not wait until they reach puberty (or later) for these conversations!
5. Use accurate language for body parts and bodily functions. Research shows that when a child has accurate language for private body parts, she/he is more likely to report abuse, if it occurs, than when the child lacks appropriate language.[
6. Identify times to talk and communication strategies that work best for you and your child. For example, the best time might be Saturday morning on the way to a sports event or after school while you share a snack. Your best strategy might be to play word games. For someone else, other times and strategies might work best.
7. Avoid times and strategies that do not work well for your children and your situation. For example, you may be unable to carry on a coherent conversation while driving. Or word games may confuse your child.
8. Be clear when discussing relationships. For example, calling your spouse ‘Mommy’ or ‘Daddy’ can confuse a child and send confusing messages about family relationships and about sexuality; instead explain the relationship. “Your Mommy is my wife, so I call her Sarah, not Mommy.” Or you might say, “Your Uncle Leroy is my brother, like Jason is your brother. Leroy is your uncle, because he is my brother. When you have kids, Jason will be their uncle.”
9. Use photos, pictures, and other visual materials as often as possible. Showing family photos may help your child to understand different types of families and relationships.
10. Use ‘teachable moments’ that arise in daily life. For example, talk about a neighbor’s new pregnancy or a friend’s upcoming marriage, divorce, move, operation, or retirement.
11. Be honest when your child asks questions. If you don’t know the answer, say so. Say you will find the answer and then do so. Be sure to get back to your child with the answer to her/his question.
12. Always acknowledge and value your child’s feelings and experience. Offer praise and support. Remember that minimizing how he/she feels is not a good way to build trust when talking about sensitive subjects. For example, “That’s a good question, and it is one I have had in the past, too.” Or, “I’m glad you feel happy when we talk. I feel happy, too.”
13. Be willing to repeat information over time. Don’t be impatient or expect your child to remember everything you said or to have entirely understood it.
14. Use all the reliable sources of information available to you—other parents whom you trust, the public library, reliable Web sites, local bookstores, educators, and health care providers. Information may be particularly useful to you when it comes from reputable organizations that deal with disabilities and/or sexuality. Be wary of relying on material that is negative about sexuality as such materials can limit your ability to be your child’s primary sex educator.
General Guidelines for Professional Sex Educators
Sex education materials and programs do exist that are designed to meet the needs of youth who live with physical, emotional, and/or mental disabilities. Whether these young people go to public or special school, live at home or in an institution, they need appropriate sex education and creative teaching methods. Although these general guidelines will be helpful, content and teaching methods must be particularized to meet the individual’s need.
1. Remember that, regardless of the physical, mental, or emotional challenges they face, young people have feelings, sexual desire, and a need for intimacy and closeness. In order to behave in a sexually responsible manner, each needs skills, knowledge, and support.
2. Understand that youth with disabilities are far more vulnerable to sexual abuse than are their peers. Youth who live with developmental disabilities are especially vulnerable. Sex education must, therefore, encompass skills to prevent sex abuse and encouragement to report and seek treatment for unwanted sexual activity.
3. Remember that youth who confront disabilities feel the same discomfort and suffer the same lack of information that hampers many of their peers regarding sexuality and sexual health.
4. Learn as much as you can about the disabilities of the populations with whom you work.
5. Be sure that the material addresses boundaries and limits—both setting boundaries and respecting others’ boundaries. Rely on role plays and interactive exercises. Use concrete teaching strategies.
6. Be creative. Develop specialized teaching tools and resources for the youth with whom you work. For example, in working with youth who have developmental disabilities, you may need to use visuals like models, dolls and pictures. For youth with physical disabilities, it may be useful to use stories and examples of others with similar disabilities who have loving, satisfying intimate relationships.
* Advocates for Youth reminds readers that each young person is unique and may require a specialized program or resources—that is, each adolescent living with a disability is also an individual with individual reactions and needs regarding sex education. Thus, this document offers general guidance and should be used with care. It may or may not offer adequate resources to meet the particular needs of an individual.
BOOKS
• The Facts of Life...and More
Sexuality and Intimacy for People with Intellectual Disabilities
edited by Leslie Walker-Hirsch, M.Ed., FAAMR, Brookes Publishing Co., 2007
This book gives social workers, teachers, and direct support professionals the comprehensive information they need to educate people with disabilities about sexuality and help them make the best possible choices across the lifespan.
ISBN: 1557667144
Click Here to Purchase This Book
• Reproductive Issues for Persons with Physical Disabilities
edited by F Hastline, PhD, MD, SS Cole, PhD, and DB Gray, PhD; Paul H. Brooks Publishing
Featuring contributions from disabled consumers and health professionals, this book focuses on: dispelling myths about sexuality and disability and exploring sexual issues that challenge people with disabilities. Chapters provide information on reproductive rights, sexual dysfunction, sexually transmitted infections, reproductive physiology, sexual development, health care needs, fertility, birth control, adoptions, pregnancy, labor and delivery, and parenthood. The book also offers personal stories of people with disabilities.
ISBN:1557661111
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• Sexuality and Disability—by M Blackburn; Butterworth-Heinemann Publisher
This book examines the physical and psychological aspects of disability and sexuality and boosts professional understanding of those with disabled patients, especially in regard to self-esteem, legal matters, abuse, adolescence, genetics and continence.
ISBN: 0750622520
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• Enabling Romance: A Guide to Love, Sex, and Relationships for People with Disabilities (And the people who care about them)—by K Kroll and EL Klein; No Limits Communications
Addressing sexuality for disabled people, this book is particularly recommended for its attention to the sex education needs of youth with all types of disabilities. Its three main components include disabilities and sexual satisfaction; life and love with specific disabilities; and resource information for independent living, dating services, and publications. It offers a wealth of information on relationships and reproductive issues.
• Sexuality and Disabilities: A Guide for Human Service Practitioners—editors, RW Mackelprang and D Valentine; The Haworth Press, 1996
This collection provides understanding of issues related to sexuality, intimacy, and disability. Articles address mental retardation and sexual expression; responding to the sexual concerns of persons with disabilities; holistic approaches to providing sex education and counseling for severely disabled people; and sexual assault.
• Socialization and Sexuality: A Comprehensive Training Guide For Professionals Helping People With Disabilities that Hinder Learning—by W Kempton
This guide outlines a training program for professionals who work with people with developmental disabilities. Chapters include: understanding the sexuality of people with disabilities that hinder learning; attitudes about sexuality: personal exploration; sexuality counseling; sexual abuse and informed consent; working with parents and families; and sexuality programs and evaluations.
CURRICULA
• Child Sexual Abuse Curriculum For The Developmentally Disabled—by SR Rappaport, PhD, SA Burkhardt, PhD, and AF Rotatori, PhD; Charles C. Thomas Publishers, 1997
This curriculum addresses child sexual abuse and the developmentally disabled, treatment of sexually abused children; and emotional and behavioral outcomes of sexual abuse. It includes 10 lessons on sexuality and sexual abuse prevention for children who are mildly retarded.
• Human Sexuality: A Portfolio for Persons with Developmental Disabilities—by I Peters and J McKoy; Planned Parenthood of Western Washington
The portfolio contains large (11 x 17 inch) colored illustration plate cards for teaching developmentally disabled youth about human sexuality, including male and female bodies, male and female genitals, intercourse, and body shapes. The portfolio offers teaching techniques and ideas along with detailed teaching points on the back of each card.
• Life Horizons I: The Physiological and Emotional Aspects of Being Male & Female; and Life Horizons II: The Moral, Social and Legal Aspects of Sexuality—by W Kempton, MSW; J Stanfield Publishing, 1999
Designed for people with mild or moderate developmental disabilities, Horizon I addresses parts of the body, the sexual life cycle, human reproduction, birth control, and sexually transmitted diseases. Life Horizons II addresses building self-esteem and learning to form relationships, moral, legal and social aspects of sexual behaviors (for males), dating skills, marriage and other adult lifestyles, parenting, and preventing or coping with sexual abuse. Each includes over 500 slides, teacher’s guide, and script.
• Signs for Sexuality: A Resource Manual for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Individuals, Their Families, and Professionals, Second edition—by M Minkin and L Rosen-Ritt; Planned Parenthood of Western Washington
This curriculum offers information on sexual abuse, sexually transmitted infections, and reproductive health, with more than 600 photographs to illustrate 250 vocabulary words relating to sexuality. Appendices include anatomical drawings and information about contraception.
• Talking Sex! Practical Approaches and Strategies for Working with People Who Have Developmental Disabilities When the Topic is Sex—by LT Maurer, MS, CFLE; Planned Parenthood of Tompkins County, 1999
This provides information, activities, and overheads that assist professionals in identifying strategies to improve access to sex education to people with developmental disabilities.
Select Resources Recommended for Parents
Parents have an important role in educating their disabled children about sex. Parents have the best knowledge of their children’s capabilities and of the values the parents want to emphasize. Here are a few recommended resources to help parents.
BOOKS
• Just Because I Am: A Child’s Book about Affirmation—by L Murphy Payne; Free Spirit Publishing, 1994; available at www.freespirit.com
This beautiful, yet simple book encourages your child to appreciate his/her uniqueness and includes empowering messages about the body, feelings, boundaries, touch, and feeling safe. It has a Leader’s Guide of supplemental activities to affirm the concepts above.
• Face Your Feelings—Child’s Work / Child’s Play. www.childswork.com; 1-800-962-1141
This book and card deck set can help children to understand the importance of expressing and understanding feelings. Designed for ages four and up, the book and card deck include 52 pictures of children, teens, and adults expressing 12 basic feelings.
• What’s the Big Secret: Talking about Sex with Girls and Boys—by M Brown and L Krasny Brown, Ed.D; Little Brown Company, 2000
This easy-to-read story book for young children addresses how boys and girls are different and social rules about talking, looking, touching, and being touched.
• What’s Happening to My Body: A Book for Boys—by Lynda and Area Madaras; Newmarket Press, 2000
This straightforward book discusses puberty and the male body. A workbook companion piece entitled, My Body, My Self for Boys, can be purchased separately and includes games, checklists, and quizzes to reinforce what boys have learned.
• What’s Happening to My Body: A Book for Girls—by Lynda and Area Madaras; Newmarket Press, 2000
This straightforward book discusses puberty and the female body. A workbook companion piece entitled, My Body, My Self for Girls, can be purchased separately and includes games, checklists, and quizzes to reinforce what girls have learned.
• Sexuality: Your Sons and Daughters with Intellectual Disabilities—by K Schwier and D Hingsburger; Brookes Publishing, 2000
This excellent resource addresses sexual development issues from birth to adulthood. Parents, and their sons and daughters with developmental disabilities share stories that can be helpful for raising sexually healthy children. Many portions of the book speak specifically to people with Down syndrome and their parents.
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