Sexuality Education for Students With Disabilities: The Effect of Parent and Educator Perceptions of Competency

• In Event: Roundtable Session 45
  In Roundtable Session: Disabling Intersections of Gender, Sex Education, and Families

Abstract

This qualitative case study investigated the question of how the attitudes of parents and educators influenced the sexuality education of a young child with autism age 14. Interviews were conducted with all of the participants and focused on three research questions eliciting information about the participants’ experiences and how they influence their current attitudes toward sexuality and intellectual disability; how the participants perceive sexuality education in public school; and finally, the motivations of parents of children with intellectual disabilities to accept or decline sexuality education in public school. Prevalent themes included general attitudes toward sexuality and disability, the perception of the child’s competency, as well as whether students with intellectual disabilities should receive sexuality education and to what extent.

Authors

• Matthew Wappett, University of Idaho

• Trina A. Balanoff, University of Idaho