Sexuality Education of Children and Adolescents With Developmental Disabilities

Sexuality education challenges many parents of children with developmental disabilities because they deny the child's sexuality, fear sexual exploitation or pregnancy, and have difficulty deciding what and how to tell the child. Pediatricians should incorporate guidance on sexuality education, socially appropriate behavior, and sexual abuse prevention into the clinical supervision of children with disabilities, as for all other children. Pediatricians have extended involvement with both families and children. They can fill the important role of guiding parents from the time the children are young to instill the attitudes and teach the behaviors and information that are most likely to help children with developmental disabilities achieve personal satisfaction, behave in ways that are socially appropriate, and protect themselves from exploitation.