Dear Reader,

Teaching developmentally appropriate information about sexuality is part of the foundation for young people to become sexually healthy adults.

They are curious about their bodies and have lots of questions. If you have mentioned reproductive anatomy in discussions about the human body with your students, then you have begun the process of teaching sexuality education. Depending on the level of the student's ability, educators who work with developmentally challenged populations approach sexuality education in a variety of ways. Some educators teach a comprehensive sexuality education program that is developmentally appropriate for the students in their class. A comprehensive program addresses human development including anatomy and physiology, puberty, body image, sexual orientation, and gender identity; relationships including families, friendship, love, and dating; personal skills including values, communication, decision making, and assertiveness; sexual behavior including sexuality throughout life, masturbation, abstinence, and human sexual response; sexual health including contraception, abortion, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), sexual abuse, and reproductive health; and issues related to society and culture including gender roles, sexuality and the law, diversity, and sexuality in the media. This may seem like a long laundry list, but sexuality education includes many topic areas, similar to other subjects, such as English, math, and social studies. The only differences are the messages, and for your class, that would be messages that are appropriate for students in the 2^nd to 3^rd grades. Others focus on developmentally appropriate curricula that address specific topics, such as puberty or sexual abuse prevention.

The Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) provides annotated bibliographies on a variety of sexuality issues. Two that prove to be helpful are Sexuality and Disability and Sexuality Education Curricula; both of the bibliographies list commercially available curricula that you can implement in your class.

As you mentioned, some parents and caregivers are concerned that sexuality education may put ideas into their child's head. The reality is that sexuality education programs do not increase sexual activity. (Take a look at Librarian likes Go Ask Alice!, parent is concerned for a study related to this topic that was published in a 1997 issue of the Journal of Adolescent Research.) Teachers and parents can monitor the needs of young people by being aware of signs that they may display indicating that they might be receiving too much or too little information. Some might put their hands over their ears or "tune out" if someone is providing them with information when they are not ready. Yet, others might indicate that they want more information, and, in fact, as they mature, may need information and skills for STI and pregnancy prevention.

Parents need to be their children's primary educators, sharing their family values and beliefs about many issues including sexuality. Arranging a meeting for parents and sharing the lesson plans before the program begins often helps place them at ease. Let them know that the information that their children will be learning is age-appropriate and that school-based sexuality education programs can complement the sexuality information and values that may be taught at home.

To help parents feel more comfortable and encourage communication with their children, the book, Sexuality: Your Sons and Daughters with Intellectual Disabilities by Karin Melberg Schwier and Dave Hingsburger might be helpful.

Alice

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