Sex Education for Students with Physical Disabilities

A person with physical disability often evokes sympathy from the onlookers. However, what most of us tend to forget is that physically disable people are not any different from normal human beings, with almost similar feelings and desires. At times, the sexual rights of physically disabled people are seriously underestimated to such an extent that they are kept in the dark regarding sexual functioning and related information and even denied of it at times.

Eventually, this leads to child abuse and inappropriate sexual behavior in public. Recent reports reveal that a greater percentage of physically disabled children are more prone to child abuse than children without disabilities. Sex education is very important for the physically disabled students as it is for normal students. However, the format and curriculum will be slightly different since many a time, the parents and caregivers will have to be involved for better presentation of facts.

Following are some of the tips for teachers who are involved in the sex education of physically disabled students:

• First, the parents or caregivers of the student should be involved. They should understand how important sex education is for their child; they should be convinced that keeping the child in the dark will make him/her ignorant about his/her sexual rights and functioning, thereby leading to teenage pregnancies and child abuse and even inappropriate sexual behavior in public.

• Students should be grouped on the basis of their age. One-on-one sessions will help the students to clear their doubts or queries, which they do not ask in groups due to shyness or embarrassment.

• Physically disabled children are found to be socially withdrawn in general. Students should be encouraged to socialize as the first step in forming human relationships.

• Each group will have the course tailored by keeping their age in mind. Make sure that the syllabus covers everything from human anatomy, physiology, pregnancy, parenting, socialization, and even topics such as HIV awareness and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Use of role plays, visual aids and reference books are also recommended for more effective teaching.

• If the teacher has to deal with teenagers, then topics such as teen pregnancies, importance of protected sex, contraception, STDs, etc. must be presented. However, regardless of the age group of the students, information regarding child abuse must be imparted.

• Amongst physically disabled students, there will be several fears and uncertainties regarding their sexual functioning and capabilities, especially teenagers. For example, many of them might feel that their physical disability may prevent them from enjoying a healthy sexual life as others. The teacher must take such instances into consideration and help them to dispel their anxiety. Further, the teacher must carefully deal with such sensitive issues.

• Students should be taught to say “NO” to “bad touch.” This is one of the first lessons to be learnt in order to recognize sexual abuse. This is because physically disabled children are more prone to abusers and perverts, and in most cases, the attacker takes advantage of the child’s disability. The student should be encouraged to inform any such instances immediately to his/her parents or trusted adult. Video clips and short films can be used to help the child in understanding this sensitive issue.

• Students should be made aware regarding proper sexual behavior and the environment in which it should take place. For instance, touching private body parts in public can be categorized under wrong behavior.

Finally, the students should be aware of their sexual rights. As any “physically able” person, the physically disabled people also have their own sexual rights and no one can deny them their rights, even their parents. The first step is to encourage them to socialize, and this small, but significant step can go a long way in making them feel normal as any other human being.

Source: author experience