SEXUAL EDUCATION FOR PERSONS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES

Aleksandar KARANFILOSKI1
Vladimir TRAJKOVSKI2

Association for Down Syndrome-Zagreb1
Faculty of Philosophy, Institute of Special Education and Rehabilitation, Skopje2

Abstract

Possibilities for intellectual and movement devel­opment of children with disabilities are part of the research that is provided within special education and rehabilitation. But we think that the forgotten component of this research that must have appro­priate principles and methods of its work is the sexual education. Our experience shows that this is not just a problem in Macedonia, but wider in the Balkan. We must have in mind that people with disabilities are intellectually and movement dis­abled, but their body hormonally develops as in any other individual. Thus, disharmony appears that causes even more problems when these people maturate. The need to satisfy the sexual urge must be appropriate and developed properly. They also develop a need for self care and life and need some decisions and activities to be involved in without their parents’ support. In their development when they are mature they want their one company that is not their mom and dad. This usually happens in the puberty. Parents often make mistakes in not recognizing their children’s needs and behave over protectively, and take care for their children more than it is needed, and they not let their children make their own decisions which can help for their inclusion in the society.

Key words: Sexual education, persons with intel­lectual disabilities, sexual development, sex
Citation:Karanfiloski A, Trajkovski V. Sexual Education for Persons with Disabilities. J Spec Educ Rehab 2008; 9(1-2):55-66.

Source: http://jser.fzf.ukim.edu.mk