Sexual health education: A missing piece in transition services for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities?

Transitioning to adult life is a complex time for all young people and includes assuming adult roles in work, independent living, and social relationships. As young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) access a broader array of social settings in their transition, including higher education, work, and independent living situations, social issues take on greater importance. Maintaining age appropriate relationships, including sexual relationships, is a critical piece of inclusion. However, students with IDD are not afforded the same access to sexual health information offered to other students. This lack of information and opportunity for development leaves young adults with IDD unfamiliar with many aspects of human sexuality and social relationships and potentially unprepared to function in adult social settings. This article provides an overview of the scope and importance of sexual health knowledge for young adults with IDD, limitations in current educational practices, practices and resources for addressing sexual health knowledge for this population, and suggestions for ways that rehabilitation counselors can ensure attention to this area within the transition process without going beyond our scope of practice.