Sexuality Education for Students with Specific Learning Disabilities

Abstract

distress for teachers, families, and students with specific learning disabilities. When given appropriate learning opportunities, students can learn the basics of personal health management and also benefit from directed discussion and learning activities that relate to personal relationships. This article reviews the content of one such program. The critical role of parents/families is discussed, a course outline is provided, and a list of possible resources is given.Lynda, a 14-year-old eighth grader, walks through the hall between fourth-and fifth-period classes. A ninth-grade boy convinces her to follow him to a secluded part of the hall. He makes suggestive remarks, holds her, and gives her a French kiss. When the bell rings, he runs to class and Lynda manages to make her way to her next class. She is very quiet and seems upset. Several days later, her mother notices that Lynda seems increasingly agitated and questions her. In the midst of hysterical sobbing and tears, Lynda finally blurts out that she thinks she is pregnant because a boy put his tongue in her mouth.Antoine is a fairly well accepted member of his church youth group and participates with them in all group events. However, he has asked 13 different girls from this group to his senior prom and none will go with him. He is confused, angry, and disappointed. He storms downstairs from his bedroom, blasts his sister, and kicks over the kitchen trash can. His parents react to his unexpected, aggressive behavior, and when they ask him about its source, his only response is, &dquo;Nothing's wrong; quit hassling me all the time. &dquo;Twenty-year-old Darryl has been out with Ashley only a few times. Following a big argument with his parents over repeatedly breaking his curfew when he sees this young woman, Darryl reluctantly discloses that he is engaged. As the conversation progresses, Darryl's parents discover Ashley and Darryl are planning an imminent wedding. Ashley has not only picked out china and silver patterns, but has also informed her parents and most of her family's close friends of her exciting news. Darryl tries to relieve his parents' concern over his behavior by disclosing that he and Ashley have agreed to wait to &dquo;do it&dquo; until they are married. Darryl's parents are very concerned about the couple's decision and become alarmed when they discover that the two young people are talking about having children as soon as they become married. Scenarios like these compel professionals and parents to work together to provide accurate sexual information for students and to promote the application of systematic problem-solving techniques to help address the social dilemmas and stigma related to specific learning disabilities (SLD).

Sex and Relationships Education: How Can Children With Learning Disabilities Be a Part of It?

“…Children with LD have the same physical and biological development as their peers (typical development) (Carter, 1999;Karamanou et al, 2013). That means that they need to receive the same content, but with different methods and materials based on their necessities regarding the type and severity of disability (Carter, 1999).…”

“…Children with LD have the same physical and biological development as their peers (typical development) (Carter, 1999;Karamanou et al, 2013). That means that they need to receive the same content, but with different methods and materials based on their necessities regarding the type and severity of disability (Carter, 1999). SRE should not be taught reactively but for preventing an undesirable condition (Schaafsma et al, 2015), such as transmitted infections, pregnancies, sexual abuse, vulnerability, and exploitation.…”

Risk Reduction Education

“…Wolfe and Blanchett (2003) published an evaluation guide for sex education for students with disabilities that refers to goals and objectives, scope and sequence, instructional strategies, curriculum development and evaluation, curriculum adaptation strategies, and curriculum concepts. Wiley and Terlosky (2000) also offered guidelines for evaluating sexuality education curricula, as did Carter (1999) in her recommendations for students with specific learning disabilities. These examples of guidelines would be valuable to schools and parents as they work together to develop their own version of risk reduction education guidelines that would be responsive to community values as well as responsive to effective educational content and practices.…”

Σεξουαλική Εκπαίδευση Για Μαθητές Με Νοητική Καθυστέρηση Στη Σχολική Ηλικία

“…Οι έρευνες σχετικά με την εγκυμοσύνη των εφήβων τείνουν να δουν όλους τους νέους ως ίδιους, εκτός από το πολιτισμικό υπόβαθρο και το γένος (Blum et al, 2000). Αν και οι νέοι με νοητική αναπηρία διατρέχουν εξαιρετικά μεγάλο κίνδυνο για εγκυμοσύνη, υπάρχουν ελάχιστες πληροφορίες στη έρευνα για τις στρατηγικές που θα καλύψουν τις ανάγκες αυτού του πληθυσμού (Carter, 1999). Ακόμα, ο πληθυσμός αυτών των νέων αντιμετωπίζει μοναδικές προκλήσεις που αφορούν στην ανάπτυξη και την παροχή των κατάλληλων προγραμμάτων και υπηρεσιών (Wolff & Foster, 1993).…”