Improving Accessibility of Sexuality Education for Learners With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities are interested in learning about sexual health and relationships ¹ but are less likely to receive sexuality education. ² Limited access to sexuality education may contribute to this population’s disparate sexual and reproductive health outcomes, including increased risks for sexually transmitted infections and sexual abuse. ^{3 – 6} This calls for the need to improve the accessibility of sexuality education for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities; however, many educators lack training on how to meet the needs of these students. ^{7 – 13} Therefore, this chapter will provide an overview of evidence-based techniques to improve the accessibility of sexuality education content for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including direct, explicit instruction, videos, visuals, and utilizing components of Universal Design for Learning. ¹⁴