Sexual Education for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Call to Action for Occupational Therapy Practitioners

ABSTRACT

Education to address sexual education that prevents unplanned pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and misinformation is necessary for promoting health and safety among school-aged children. Teachers provide sexual education in educational settings in several states across the country; however, teachers are not prepared to educate students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) on these topics. Occupational therapy has a foothold in the education system as a related service for individuals with IDD and background in addressing sex with clients. This knowledge provides an opportunity for occupational therapy practitioners to incorporate developmentally appropriate sexual education for middle and high school aged individuals with IDD in public school systems.

KEYWORDS:

• Intellectual and developmental disabilities
• sexual education
• occupational therapy

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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.