Although sexuality is seen as a large component of individuals’ quality of life, health-care practitioners still have difficulty in practice due to a variety of factors such as personal embarrassment, lack of training, setting constraints, or societal perceptions of sexuality. Sexuality is a human right and all individuals, regardless of their background, should have the right to engage in this integral part of humanity. Unfortunately, sexuality is often a topic that is disregarded or glossed over for disabled individuals especially.

Occupational therapy (OT) is the practice of helping individuals engage in activities or tasks that are valuable to them, allowing them to live a fulfilling life and maximize their well-being. Due to its unique scope of practice and skill set, occupational therapy has a valuable role to play in sexual and reproductive health education, especially for individuals with Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). According to the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework (OTPF), sexual activity is included in Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Sexual activity is defined as, “Engaging in the broad possibilities for sexual expression and experiences with self or others…” (AOTA, 2020, p. 30) As practitioners, we can analyze sexual activity when looking at occupational performance and performance deficits.

Below are some resources that have been specifically compiled to aid occupational therapists, and other practitioners, in expanding their knowledge on our role in sexual and reproductive health education.

• Articles for continuing education
• Podcasts and videos
• Continuing education opportunities and certificates
• Models to discuss sexual health

Articles for continuing education

• The Lived Experience of Sexuality Among Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Scoping Review 
  • Citation: Bathje, M., Schrier, M., Williams, K., & Olson, L. (2021). The lived experience of sexuality among adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A scoping review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 75(4). https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2021.045005
• Sexuality Among Adolescents and Young Adults with Intellectual Disability: Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices 
  • Citation: Chavan, B.S., Ahmad, W., Arun, P., Mehta, S., Nazli, Ratnam, V., & Raina Deepti. (2021). Sexuality among adolescents and young adults with intellectual disability: Knowledge, attitude, and practices. Journal of Psychosexual Health, 3(2), 140-145. https://doi.org/10.1177/26318318211021544
• Exploring Perspectives of Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities About Sexuality and Sexual Health Education
  • Citation: Coulter, D., Lynch, C., & Joosten, A. V. (2023). Exploring the perspectives of young adults with developmental disabilities about sexuality and sexual health education. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 70(3). https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1630.12862
• What Do Adolescents With Developmental Disabilities Learn About Sexuality and Dating? A Potential Role for Occupational Therapy 
  • Citation: Krantz, G. & Tolan, V. (2016). What do adolescents with developmental disabilities learn about sexuality and dating? A potential role for occupational therapy. Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 4(2), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.1208
• Applying an Occupational Therapy Lens to Addressing Sexuality 
  • Citation: Lynch, C. & Fortune, T. (2019). Applying an occupational therapy lens to addressing sexuality. Sexuality and Disability, 37, 145-159. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-019-09566-7

Podcasts and videos

• OT After Dark Episode 31- Doin' it: An Occupational Perspective of Sex 
  • Spotify 
• Disability Visibility Podcast Episode 39- Sex Education 
• ABA Inside Track Podcast Episode 147 
  • A conversation with a BCBA about the sexual well-being of persons with IDD 
• Sex Ed for People with IDD: YouTube Series 

Continuing Education Opportunities and Certificates

• If you’d like to become more comfortable talking about topics that relate to sex, sexuality and intimacy in general, Kathryn Ellis created the Institute for Sex and Occupational Therapy. This course is an AOTA certified sexuality occupational therapy program. 
  • This continuing education opportunity includes: four self-paced, pre-recorded courses, a live workshop to reflect on yourself as a sexual being and address internal biases, access to an online graduate community, and 0.6 CEU’s. 
  • There is also a one-hour free introductory course 

Models to Discuss Sexual Health

These are models created with the intention of guiding conversations about sexual and reproductive health.  

• EX-PLISSIT Model 
  • Citation: Taylor, B. & Davis, S. (2006). Using the extended PLISSIT model to address sexual healthcare needs. Nursing Standard, 21(11), 35-40.  
• Recognition Model 
  • Citation: Couldrick, L., Sadlo, G., & Cross, V. (2010). Proposing a new sexual health model of practice for disability teams: the recognition model. Internal Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 17(6), 290-299.  
• BETTER Model 
  • Citation: Mick, J., Hughes, M., & Cohen, M. Z. (2004). Using the BETTER model to assess sexuality. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 8(1), 84-86. https://doi.org/10.1188/04.CJON.84-86