Do students with special needs need sex ed?

Some educators and advocates in the United Kingdom are calling for mandatory sex education for students with special needs. One school uses laminated picture cards and sign language to discuss topics from hygiene to consent with their all-male student body.  The Guardian (London)

Sexuality Education for Youth with Disability

This is a site that the University of Michigan Health System put together to educate families on what they need to know about youth with disabilities or chronic conditions. The site has more links leading to different resources that families may find helpful. They have information on how to deal with the many aspects of disability, love, sex, and puberty in a responsible and affirming way.  http://www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/topics/disabsex.htm

Promotion of Healthy Relationships and Sexuality for Individuals with Disabilities

 

This fact sheet promotes healthy relationships and debunks myths about sexuality in relation to individuals with disabilities. It provides background information, facts, and resources, and also discusses solutions and promising steps in promoting healthy sexuality for individuals with disabilities. Published by the Minnesota Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities Program (MN LEND) at the Institute on Community Integration (ICI) at the University of Minnesota.

Cost: Free.  Available on the Web at http://lend.umn.edu/docs/LEND-FACT-sexuality.pdf    (LEND Fact Sheet) (August 2013 By J. Nelson)

Sex Education for Physically, Emotionally and Mentally Challenged Youth

Advocates for Youth has developed Sex Education for Physically, Emotionally and Mentally Challenged Youth. The document provides an overview of common myths and facts about the sexuality of people with disabilities, along with general guidelines for parents and a bibliography of sex education materials and resources. http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/479?task=view

 

Puberty & Children on the Autism Spectrum

Every adolescent must endure the trials of puberty. The physical & chemical changes of the teenage years take place in every person’s body, whether they have autism or not. Parents of children on the spectrum should be well prepared however, as this stage of growing up is stressful for anyone, but especially for people with ASD who prefer predictability.

Learn how to help your adolescent with ASD through with Puberty and Children on the Autism Spectrum, a free informational resource from the Autism Society’s Living With Autism series. This concise, informative guide has suggestions for preparing for & responding to the stages of puberty, including the development of secondary characteristics as well as the onset of menstruation or ejaculation.

Parents must be comfortable talking about body parts and actions using medical language, and sons and daughters need to know that their parents will answer any questions accurately and respectfully. Puberty is unnerving, but children will be more confident if they feel that their family is supportive and considerate of them.
Check out this free downloadable resource on the Autism Society's Resource Materials page. You must be registered and logged in to view the page.  http://www.autism-society.org/about-us/publications/resource-materials.html

New Resource on Sexuality & Youth/Adults w/ Disabilities

What does it mean to affirm and support sexuality as a part of the lives of youth and adults with disabilities? That's the focus of the new publication Impact: Feature Issue on Sexuality and People with Intellectual, Developmental & Other Disabilities published by the Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota. Its articles cover topics ranging from sexuality education in the home & school, to personal stories of dating & marriage, to legal & ethical issues for staff & agencies providing services for people with disabilities.

The new Impact issue on sexuality is available online in PDF and text-only at http://ici.umn.edu/products/impact/232. In addition, a free print copy can be requested by calling 612-624-4512 or emailing icipub@umn.edu.