Disability²

Some Mentally Disabled Learn Dating Skills

This looks like a great program:

At “You and I” events, the participants — the guys outnumber the women 16 to 3 — learn “social-sexual skills,” with specifics on body language, grooming and conversation starters. There are also sections on feelings, body awareness and sex education.

All people, with or without cognitive disabilities deserve the opportunity to develop intimate relationships with others, even including consensual sex when circumstances warrant. With sex often comes parenthood. Of course all young people should be educated about birth control options consistent with their own philosophical and religious beliefs, they too should learn basic parenting skills, whether or not they have children.

Oftentimes, youth and young adults with developmental disabilities are assumed to be incapable of dating and having intimate relationships, and they are also assumed to be incapable of parenting. Many could parent successfully, particularly if parenting skills are taught and reinforced throughout childhood. Allow individuals with developmental disabilities to baby sit, be mother’s helpers and the like. Encourage teens with disabilities to attend sex education and parenting classes taught in high schools. Many people with disabilities, cognitive or otherwise, will become parents whether their families and friends want them to or not. Prepare for the possibility early, and give every young adult with a disability the opportunity to make a real and informed choice about parenthood.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 14th, 2006 at 7:25 pm and is filed under Media. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.