A Review of Sexuality Education Curricula: Meeting the Sexuality Education Needs of Individuals with Moderate and Severe Intellectual Disabilities

Abstract

The importance of sexuality education for students with moderate and severe disabilities has received increasing attention as these people have moved into community settings and as the idea of their right to full, satisfying life circumstances has gained acceptance. Although more curricula are now available for students with special needs, educators and other service providers must select curricula that are comprehensive, credible, and appropriately match their students' learning characteristics and needs. The purpose of this review was to evaluate the 12 sexuality education curricula that were recommended by the Sexuality Information Education Center of the United States (SIECUS) as appropriate for students with special needs. Curricula were reviewed based on the presence and appropriateness of (a) goals/ objectives and scope/sequence, (b) curriculum concepts, (c) instructional methods, (d) curriculum development and evaluation techniques, and (e) suggested adaptations for diverse student learners.