Reducing barriers to sex education and counseling for clients who are mentally retarded : professional views

Individuals who are mentally retarded need and have a right to sex education and counseling, yet systematic sex education and counseling is not widely available to this client population. Barriers inhibiting the development and implementation of sex education and counseling programs were identified in a pilot project. The main research question was formulated to explore how these barriers could be reduced: What would enable the staff of agencies serving adults or adolescents with mental retardation to provide systematic sex education and counseling for their clients? Through the use of two survey instruments and a structured interview process, professionals of sixteen agencies addressed the issue of how to reduce the barriers. On the basis of the research data and a thorough review of related literature, the researcher made recommendations in five areas for enabling professionals to provide systematic sex education and counseling for their clients: 1) self-advocacy and self-determination for the client population; 2) individualistic program design; 3) staff training and support; 4) parental involvement; and 5) interagency cooperation. Two suggestions for further study were presented.