Why We Need Sex Education
Sex ed is about more than just sex. It also covers consent, personal boundaries, relationships, body awareness, puberty, identity, and communication — at every stage of life.
Disabled people want love, friendship, and connection just like everyone else — but they are often left out of these lessons and conversations. Without education about consent and boundaries, people are more at risk of being harmed. When disabled people have the right information, they feel more confident speaking up — with doctors, with caregivers, and if something ever feels wrong. Sex education opens the door to healthy relationships — and healthy relationships are one of the biggest factors in living a longer, happier life.Big Ideas, Real Impact.
People with intellectual disabilities are 5x more likely to experience sexual violence than those without any disability.
U.S. Department of Justice (2017)
“56% of students with mild intellectual disabilities received no sex education — and for those with moderate to profound disabilities, that number jumps to 84%.”
“Comprehensive sex education reduces sexual abuse, builds healthy relationship skills, and makes people more likely to report violations.”
“The #1 reason for happiness is quality of relationships - not genetics, wealth, or even cholesterol levels.”
Barnard-Brak, L., Johnsen, W., Steinman, M., & Carbonaro, M. (2014). Predictors of sex education for students with intellectual disabilities in public schools. Sexuality and Disability, 32(2), 255–269. As cited in Kammes, R. (2021, November). Comprehensive and systemic sexuality and relationship education for young adults with autism. Tarjan Center Lecture, UCLA Semel Institute. https://teams.semel.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/tarjan/pdf/Tarjan%20Lecture-112221.pdf
Goldfarb, E. S., & Lieberman, L. D. (2021). Three decades of research: The case for comprehensive sex education. Journal of Adolescent Health, 68(1), 13–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.07.036
Harrell, E. (2017). Crime against persons with disabilities, 2009–2015: Statistical tables. U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics. NCJ 250632. https://bjs.ojp.gov/content/pub/pdf/capd0915st.pdf
Waldinger, R. J., & Schulz, M. S. (2023). The good life: Lessons from the world's longest scientific study of happiness. Simon & Schuster. See also: Harvard Study of Adult Development. https://www.adultdevelopmentstudy.org