Preface
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1- Introduction
Chapter 2- We’re in this Together: Who are the Educators?
Chapter 3- The Birds and the Bees: Specific Skills and Teaching
Strategies
Chapter 4- We Can’t Hide: Pop Culture and Digital Media
Chapter 5- The Birds and the Bees, Round 2: The Curriculum
Chapter 6- No One Can Escape Puberty: Physical and Cognitive
Development
Chapter 7- What Does It All Mean: LGBTQ+
Chapter 8- Special Considerations: Group Homes and Residential
Facilities
Chapter 9- Similarities and Differences: ASD and IDD
Chapter 10- Just Say No! (Or Yes): Ethics
About the Authors
Elizabeth A. Harkins Monaco is a professor of special education at
the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. She focuses on social
and emotional development for students with intellectual
disabilities and autism spectrum disorders.
Thomas Gibbon is an associate professor of special education at
Shippensburg University. He focuses on transition to adulthood and
vocational models for students with disabilities.
David Bateman is a professor of special education at Shippensburg
University. He focuses on appropriate services for students with
disabilities.
Talking About Sex: Sexuality Education for Learners with
Disabilities makes an essential contribution to advocating for
self-determination of persons with developmental
disabilities by taking up a subject that educators
and other human service professional have historically overlooked.
Educational practices have focused on academic and self-help
skills while largely ignoring issues of sexuality.
Understanding sexuality is an equally important life
skill that empowers young adults
with disabilities. Individuals with developmental
disabilities are at the greatest risk for sexual abuse and need an
awareness of both normal and deviant sexuality. These individuals
have the same rights as people without disabilities to
engage in sexual and relationship exploration, including knowledge
of safe sex practices, consent, and ethical behavior. In
addition to exploring the topic, the authors
offer instructional approaches for sex education that are
adapted for special populations. Talking About Sex: Sexuality
Education for Learners with Disabilities is a must-read for
parents, counselors, providers, and virtually anyone engaged in the
field.
*Henry B. Reiff, coordinator, Graduate Program in Special
Education, professor of Special Education, McDaniel College,
vice-president for student members, International Academy for
Research in Learning Disabilities (IARLD), author of Teaching for
the Lifespan*
In my role as a special education leader for over 20 years, one of
the biggest gaps in programming for students with IDD and Autism is
in the area of curriculum to provide direct instruction in
sexuality education. In just the last two years, I have seen
the number of individuals with IDD and/or Autism who get in trouble
with the law increase exponentially simply because they lack
a basic understanding of societal norms when it comes to sexual
behavior while also having instant and often unmonitored access to
social media. “Talking About Sex: Sexuality for Learners with
Disabilities” is one of the first books I’ve seen on this topic and
it provides a well-researched approach that will help inform
educators and caregivers of the need for sexuality education for
this population. It does a great job of identifying topics
that need to be discussed while also providing hands on curriculum
suggestions and resources for teachers and parents to use to help
this population learn to safety navigate the complicated world of
human sexual behavior.
*William P. Gillet, director of student services, Big Spring School
District, Newville, PA*
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