Key social and emotional milestones during adolescence are often directly related to the abilities to initiate and maintain intimate relationships, maintain physically maturing bodies, and manage personal sexuality. Most adolescents with developmental disabilities have particular difficulty expressing sexuality in satisfying ways, consequently facing issues such as limited intimate relationships, low self-esteem, increased social isolation, deregulated emotional maintenance, reduced sexual functioning, and limited sexual health. Appropriate sexual knowledge assists not only in achieving personal fulfillment, but protection from mistreatment, abuse, unplanned pregnancies, or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). It also works to help solve problems of loneliness and problems with self-esteem. This book will address this but also much more. Issues of physical and cognitive development will be discussed, including appropriate sexual development/urges and brain development, and innate similarities and differences of sexuality that could occur between people with autism spectrum disorders and intellectual or developmental disabilities, including the complexities of physical disabilities. The authors will also consider special considerations for group homes and recreational facilities, and specifically focus on concepts of ethics and models of consent (medical, legal, social, and educational), as well as how to deal with uncertainty.

Key social and emotional milestones during adolescence are often directly related to the abilities to initiate and maintain intimate relationships, maintain physically maturing bodies, and manage personal sexuality. Most adolescents with developmental disabilities have particular difficulty expressing sexuality in satisfying ways, consequently facing issues such as limited intimate relationships, low self-esteem, increased social isolation, deregulated emotional maintenance, reduced sexual functioning, and limited sexual health. Appropriate sexual knowledge assists not only in achieving personal fulfillment, but protection from mistreatment, abuse, unplanned pregnancies, or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). It also works to help solve problems of loneliness and problems with self-esteem. This book will address this but also much more. Issues of physical and cognitive development will be discussed, including appropriate sexual development/urges and brain development, and innate similarities and differences of sexuality that could occur between people with autism spectrum disorders and intellectual or developmental disabilities, including the complexities of physical disabilities. The authors will also consider special considerations for group homes and recreational facilities, and specifically focus on concepts of ethics and models of consent (medical, legal, social, and educational), as well as how to deal with uncertainty.

Sexuality Education for Students with Disabilities addresses the natural process of maturation and sexual development for SWD. This book presents a balance of theory, research, and practice that will assist teachers, paraprofessionals, school administrators, school counselors, and community service agency providers in understanding the specific needs of SWD as they develop and the roles they should play in teaching students about sexuality. SWD reach the same physical milestones as students who do not have disabilities, however, some disabling conditions can delay successful development of healthy relationships that lead to mutually supportive sexual relationships. Undergraduate students, graduate students, new and seasoned teachers, school administrators, and social service providers will benefit from this book. Readers who currently work with SWD or will eventually work with SWD need the information in this text to expand their understanding and strategies related to sexuality instruction. Those who develop or implement Individualized Educational Programs can use this text to support goals, objectives, and activities that are found in the transition plan. Those who work in postsecondary settings will find this information helpful in supporting adolescents with disabilities who are newly graduated from high school. Sexuality Education for Students with Disabilities provides a review of the most recent research and practice in sexuality instruction for SWD. It is a comprehensive guide for the wide range of disabling conditions. This is a different approach from other texts that focus specifically on one or a few disabling conditions. This book comes at a time in our culture when we more readily recognize the pitfalls of inadequate sexuality instruction; namely, sexual harassment and abuse. It is well-documented that people with disabilities are disproportionally victims of sexual harassment and abuse. SWD and young adults need teachers and community service professionals who are knowledgeable and supportive to provide instruction and feedback in this process. In addition to safety issues, the goal of this text is to assist teachers and service providers to help young people with disabilities to understand that sexuality is pleasurable and important part of growing up.

Sexuality Education for Students with Disabilities addresses the natural process of maturation and sexual development for SWD. This book presents a balance of theory, research, and practice that will assist teachers, paraprofessionals, school administrators, school counselors, and community service agency providers in understanding the specific needs of SWD as they develop and the roles they should play in teaching students about sexuality. SWD reach the same physical milestones as students who do not have disabilities, however, some disabling conditions can delay successful development of healthy relationships that lead to mutually supportive sexual relationships. Undergraduate students, graduate students, new and seasoned teachers, school administrators, and social service providers will benefit from this book. Readers who currently work with SWD or will eventually work with SWD need the information in this text to expand their understanding and strategies related to sexuality instruction. Those who develop or implement Individualized Educational Programs can use this text to support goals, objectives, and activities that are found in the transition plan. Those who work in postsecondary settings will find this information helpful in supporting adolescents with disabilities who are newly graduated from high school. Sexuality Education for Students with Disabilities provides a review of the most recent research and practice in sexuality instruction for SWD. It is a comprehensive guide for the wide range of disabling conditions. This is a different approach from other texts that focus specifically on one or a few disabling conditions. This book comes at a time in our culture when we more readily recognize the pitfalls of inadequate sexuality instruction; namely, sexual harassment and abuse. It is well-documented that people with disabilities are disproportionally victims of sexual harassment and abuse. SWD and young adults need teachers and community service professionals who are knowledgeable and supportive to provide instruction and feedback in this process. In addition to safety issues, the goal of this text is to assist teachers and service providers to help young people with disabilities to understand that sexuality is pleasurable and important part of growing up.