Sexuality for All Abilities Teaching and Discussing Sexual Health in Special Education

This essential manual helps educators comfortably and knowledgeably bring comprehensive sex education to the special education classroom. Drawing on firsthand experience and real-world examples, the first half provides background material—including common roadblocks—and tools for how to effectively partner with parents. The second half breaks down the how-tos of implementing a successful sex education program and troubleshoots tricky situations that might come up in the special education classroom. Written in accessible, person-first language, this guide equips you with best practices for providing students with developmental disabilities with the knowledge and tools to engage in healthy relationships and live full lives as self-advocating sexual beings.

Introduction 1. Students in the Special Education Classroom Need (and Deserve) a Comprehensive Sex Education 2.How to Get Comfortable with a Comprehensive Sex Education Curriculum 3. How to Manage Parent Attitudes 4.How to Approach Topics and Structure Lessons 5. How to Provide Students a Lesson in Healthy Relationships 6. How to Meet Bigger Challenges 7. The Impact of Providing Lessons in Sexual Health on Students with Developmental Disabilities

Katie Thune is an educator, author, and advocate for people with disabilities. She has her teaching license in health education, and special education K–12, as well asan MA in education. She worked as a teacher for Saint Paul Public Schools in Minnesota for 12 years and provides extensive curriculum writing on relationships and sexuality education. Molly Gage has an MA and PhD in English from the University of Minnesota. She founded Modern Writing Services to help writers express progressive ideas in works of rigorous, thought-provoking nonfiction.