AHRC New York City is proud to continue its work as part of the Project SHINE network. Project SHINE aims to address inequities in sexual health by ensuring accessible education and health services for youth with intellectual and developmental disability ages 16–24 and the people who support them.
We are excited to share Project SHINE’s first research publication “Sexual and Reproductive Health Education for Youth with Intellectual Disabilities: a Mixed Methods Study of Professionals’ Practices and Needs” which amplifies the need for Project SHINE’s work and innovation.
Access the full text of the article here and find the abstract below.
Abstract: We conducted formative research to inform the creation of innovative new tools and strategies to engage professionals in communicating with youth with intellectual disabilities about sexual health. The research was guided by a multidisciplinary network of experts and an advisory board of self-advocates with intellectual disabilities and caregivers that make up Project SHINE: the Sexual Health Innovation Network for Equitable Education. A cross-sectional mixed-methods study utilized survey data from 632 disability support professionals who provide services to youth ages 16–24 with intellectual disabilities (ID). We then conducted focus groups with 36 professionals to obtain more in-depth information related to organizational support needs and suitable contexts, methods, and tools for sexuality education. Participants included licensed/credentialed direct service professionals (social workers, nurses, teachers), non-licensed direct service providers (case managers, supportive care specialists, residential care line staff), and program administrators. Quantitative and qualitative data analyses triangulated the findings across four content areas: attitudes about providing sexual health information to youth with ID, preparedness to communicate about sexuality, current communication practices, and professional needs in the field for new teaching tools and methods. We discuss how findings can be used to guide the creation and successful implementation of innovative new sexual health learning tools for youth with intellectual disabilities.
