ABUSE THREAT: PARENTS AS SEXUALITY EDUCATORS FOR ADOLESCENTS GIRLS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY.

While the issue of sexuality is often difficult for parents and professionals to discuss with children and youth, it is also one which is highly important to address in an open, frank, and matter-of-fact manner. Yet sexuality education is not something that is accomplished in a limited number of lessons parents deliver it is a lifelong process of learning about ourselves and growing as social and sexual beings. Because children and youth with disabilities will mature and one day be adults functioning within the community, they have a right to be fully and accurately informed about what sexuality means, what responsibilities it involves ,and what unique pleasures, joys ,and pain this aspect to identity can bring. The vast majority of patents want to be or already are the primary sex educators of their children. The dangers of not providing children with developmental disabilities with sexuality education are serious and may result in self doubt, fear and embarrassment, unacceptable socio-sexual behaviors, social ridicule, unplanned pregnancy, and STI infections. Without sexuality education, children with developmental disabilities are precluded from reaching their sexual potential, and their continued ignorance makes them vulnerable to sexual exploitation. The goal is for parents of children with developmental disabilities to offer sexuality information from early childhood and to continue through adolescence, preparing their children to become sexually responsible and knowledgeable young adults. To accomplish this goal, parents need education and support from sexuality educators and family service providers on all sexual related education. This presentation attempts to offer some need based practical suggestions to parents for how to take an active role in teaching mentally challenged adolescents about sexuality and safe guard their children from sexual perpetrators.