WHEP Scholar Megan McAdoo
Drexel University College of Medicine, Class of 2023

Sexual health can be a challenging topic for children, caregivers and health care practitioners to navigate. Like all young people, children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are entitled to develop an understanding of their sexuality – and to receive an accurate sexual education – in a safe environment as they build the social and emotional skills to navigate that facet of life. However, caregivers, educators and health care practitioners may encounter more real and perceived barriers to addressing sexuality with children with IDD, who may have additional medical and social complexities. The goal of this paper is to explore the obstacles to sexual health education and care for young people with IDD, to investigate how those barriers lead to disparate health outcomes, and to name some ways health care providers can help. In doing so, I hope to advocate for a more equitable model of sexual health care and education.