Sexual Health Education for Youth With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A School District Case Study

Background Comprehensive and accessible sexual health education (SHE) can improve knowledge and skills among youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). This case study highlights how a mid‐sized school district adapted and delivered SHE in high school special education (SpEd) classrooms. Contributions to Practice Using feedback from students, teachers, and I/DD experts, school district staff adapted and piloted a SHE unit for youth with I/DD. Lessons incorporated universal design for learning principles while addressing sexual health topics and teaching strategies for youth with I/DD. Training and technical assistance improved educator comfort and delivery of SHE. Implications for School Health Policy, Practice, and Equity Districts creating and piloting a SHE unit should consider providing training and coaching for SpEd teachers, working with SpEd leadership to gain support and access, engaging parents to increase buy‐in and reduce opt‐outs, and eliciting ongoing feedback from students and teachers. Conclusions More practice‐based research is needed to advance I/DD‐inclusive SHE. Future studies examining how SHE curriculum for special education is developed, adapted, taught, and evaluated are needed while centering student voice.