Sex, Sex Education and Sexual Assault
As you grow up, your body changes, and this shows in both visible and invisible ways. While changes to your outward appearance—such as the growth of facial hair on males and breast tissue in females—are likely obvious to others, transformations happening inside may not be. These include changes in thoughts and feelings. During this time, you may develop feelings of sexual attraction. This is normal for all youth, both with and without disabilities.
Download the Sex, Sex Education and Sexual Assault Presentation
SHORTFALLS IN SEX EDUCATION
Despite the fact that youth with disabilities engage in sexual activity, there is a lack of both sex education and research related to sex and youth with disabilities, and this may contribute to higher incidents of negative consequences.
Why is there such limited education and research? One explanation is a lack of accessible and understandable materials for youth with different types of disabilities. For instance, some health curricula designed for students with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) don’t address sex at all. This may lead youth to learn only from their parents, peers and the internet.
Although we all learn from resources beyond school, information obtained is not always reliable or comprehensive, or even available at all. Some parents or other caregivers may find the subject difficult to talk about or try to “protect” you from learning about sex and the related issues of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Of course, this not the case with all parents and caregivers, but research indicates it may be more common among parents of children with disabilities. Some parents and caregivers think that if they teach their youth with disabilities about sex, it will make them want to engage in sexual activity.
Research also reveals many misconceptions about sexuality and disability, such as the idea that people with disabilities (and especially women with disabilities) are asexual. These misconceptions, along with the reality that some youth with disabilities have social skills deficits and experience isolation, means they have a more limited number of people to talk to and learn from about part of adult life for all people.
OUTCOMES
As noted, a lack of sex education for youth with disabilities has unfortunately led to negative outcomes. These include:
Unplanned Pregnancy – About 40% of teen females with I/DD experience teen pregnancy, while the teen pregnancy rate for individuals without disabilities is 18%.
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) – Males with I/DD contract STIs at a rate of 3%, which is the same as the rate for males without disabilities. But for females with I/DD the rate is 26%, while the rate for females without disabilities is 10%
Resources
SEXUAL ASSAULT
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, sexual assault is “illegal sexual contact that usually involves force upon a person without consent or is inflicted upon a person who is incapable of giving consent (as because of age or physical or mental incapacity) or who places the assailant (such as a doctor) in a position of trust and authority.”
In other words, someone you know and trust could force you to participate in activities of a sexual nature even when you say no or are unable to say no. That is sexual assault, and it is wrong and against the law.
In fact, a research study conducted among people who were sexually assaulted found that the majority of their offenders were listed as family members, medical providers and caregivers. This study also revealed that 80% of the women with disabilities in the study had been assaulted at least once, and 50% had been assaulted 10 or more times. Based on these results, it is estimated that individuals with disabilities are four times more likely to be the victim of sexual abuse.
As discussed in this guide’s section on Relationship Violence, research and reporting on sexual assault of people with disabilities are limited, and thus there is very little data, including related differences based on gender, race or sexual orientation. Additional and more varied research is needed to ensure our society’s understanding of this issue is inclusive and sexual assault against people with disabilities, and all people, can be prevented.
It is important to know that, regardless of who you are, you have a right to say no to any sexual advance, even if the person is someone you know and trust. If someone has touched you inappropriately or forced you to participate in unwanted sexual activity, seek care and report the attack to law enforcement as soon as possible.
It is important to know that, regardless of who you are, you have a right to say no to any sexual advance, even if the person is someone you know and trust.
Sources Used to Develop this Section
- Cheng, M. M., & Udry, J. R. (2002). Sexual behaviors of physically disabled adolescents in the United States. The Journal ofadolescent health: official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine, 31(1), 48–58.
- Baines, S., Emerson, E., Robertson, J., & Hatton, C. (2018). Sexual activity and sexual health among young adults with and without mild/moderate intellectual disability. BMC public health, 18(1), 667.
- Deschaine, M. (2011). How Developmental Disabilities Impact the Sexual Health of Young Adults. Sexual Health DisparitiesAmong Disenfranchised Youth.
- Shapland, C. (2000). Sexuality Issues for Youth with Disabilities and Chronic Health Conditions. Healthy & Ready To Work(HRTW) Policy Brief. Center for Policy and Partnerships Institute for Child Health Policy.