Sexual health education for adolescents and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities: recommendations for accessible sexual and reproductive health information

Sexual and reproductive health is an important aspect of human development, but discussions with adolescents and young adults on this topic are often challenging for health-care providers. As a result, many adolescents and young adults do not receive appropriate, comprehensive sexual education, despite recognition from WHO and the UN that access to this education is a human right. Adolescents and young adults with mild to moderate intellectual or developmental disability, or both, are just as likely to be sexually active as are their peers without disability; however, these individuals are less likely to receive comprehensive sexual education. To ensure adequate comprehensive sexual education for adolescents and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, sexual health educators should facilitate conversations about sexual and reproductive health that are non-judgmental and sexually inclusive. Such initiatives should use an educational framework grounded in universal design for learning, including use of multiple media types with clear, concise language and images.