Adolescence is a crucial phase of development, marked by significant physical, emotional, and social changes. Navigating these changes for teenagers with special needs can be particularly challenging. Addressing these topics is essential to ensure holistic well-being and healthy development of teenagers with special needs. This workshop aimed to equip parents with the necessary knowledge, skills, and strategies to navigate conversations about puberty and sexuality effectively. This paper is to present the findings of this workshop focused on puberty and sexuality education for parents of teenagers with special needs. A diverse group of parents of teenagers with special needs were recruited through Facebook groups, special schools, and community organizations. Prior to the workshop participants were invited to answer questions regarding their concerns about their special needs child sexuality. A total of 150 parents responded to this qualitative survey. The workshop includes a slot for a sexuality education lecture and a hands-on practical session focusing on managing menstruation and masturbation. A total of 69 participants for the workshop were required to answer pre and post-questionnaires – to determine the knowledge, perceptions, dedication, and willingness in delivering sexual information to teenagers with special needs.Keywords: Sexual education; puberty; teenagers; sexuality; special needsReferencesAkatukwasa, C., Kemigisha, E., Achen, D., Fernandes, D., Namatovu, S., Mlahagwa, W., Ruzaaza, G. N., Coene, G., Rukundo, G. Z., Michielsen, K., & Nyakato, V. N. (2023). Narratives of most significant change to explore experiences of caregivers in a caregiver-young adolescent sexual and reproductive health communication intervention in rural south-western Uganda. PLOS ONE, 18(5), e0286319. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0286319Breuner, C. C., & Mattson, G. (2017). Sexuality education for children and adolescents. Pediatric Clinical Practice Guidelines & Policies, 1185–1195. https://doi.org/10.1542/9781610020862-part04-sexualityBrkić-Jovanović, N., Runjo, V., Tamaš, D., Slavković, S., & Milankov, V. (2021). Persons with intellectual disability: Sexual behaviour, knowledge and assertiveness. Slovenian Journal of Public Health, 60(2), 82–89. https://doi.org/10.2478/sjph-2021-0013Eglseder, K., Webb, S., & Rennie, M. (2018). Sexual functioning in occupational therapy Education: A survey of programs. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 6(3). https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.1446Gray, S., & Rarick, S. (2018). Exploring gender and racial/ethnic differences in the effects of child sexual abuse. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 27(5), 570–587. https://doi.org/10.1080/10538712.2018.1484403Holmes, L. G., Strassberg, D. S., & Himle, M. B. (2019). Family sexuality communication for adolescent girls on the autism spectrum. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 49(6), 2403–2416. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-019-03904-6Ihwani, S. S., Muhtar, A., Musa, N., & Rashed, Z. N. (2018). Islamic education teachers’ perception on their readiness in teaching elements of sexual education. ATTARBAWIY: Malaysian Online Journal of Education, 2(2), 61–67. https://doi.org/10.53840/attarbawiy.v2i2.79Kaczkowski, W., & Swartout, K. M. (2019). Exploring gender differences in sexual and reproductive health literacy among young people from refugee backgrounds. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 22(4), 369–384. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2019.1601772.Liang, M., Simelane, S., Fortuny Fillo, G., Chalasani, S., Weny, K., Salazar Canelos, P., Jenkins, L., Moller, A.-B., Chandra-Mouli, V., Say, L., Michielsen, K., Engel, D. M. C., & Snow, R. (2019). The state of adolescent sexual and reproductive health. Journal of Adolescent Health, 65(6), S3–S15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2019.09.015Mackin, M., Loew, N., Gonzalez, A., Tykol, H., & Christensen, T. (2016). Parent perceptions of sexual education needs for their children with autism. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 31(6), 608–618. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2016.07.003Madlala, G. E. (2021). Perceptions of female students with physical disabilities at the Pietermaritzburg campus of University of KwaZulu-Natal towards intimate relationships (Doctoral dissertation).Munro, A. K., Hunter, E. C., Hossain, S. Z., & Keep, M. (2021). A systematic review of the menstrual experiences of university students and the impacts on their education: A global perspective. PLOS ONE, 16(9), e0257333. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0257333Pechmann, C., Catlin, J. R., & Zheng, Y. (2019). Facilitating adolescent well‐being: A review of the challenges and opportunities and the beneficial roles of parents, Schools, Neighborhoods, and Policymakers. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 30(1), 149–177. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcpy.1136Rahman, A. A., Rahman, R. A., Ismail, S. B., Ibrahim, M. I., Ali, S. H., Salleh, H., & Wan Muda, W. A. M. (2012). Factors associated with attitude toward premarital sexual activities among school-going adolescents in Kelantan, Malaysia. Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health, 27(2), NP1549–NP1556. https://doi.org/10.1177/1010539512449856Reitsema, A. M., & Grietens, H. (2015). Is Anybody Listening? The literature on the dialogical process of child sexual abuse disclosure reviewed. Trauma, Violence, &Abuse, 17(3), 330–340. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838015584368Schaff, A. R. D., & Mohamad, F. S. (2019). Let’s talk about sex: teaching adolescents with intellectual disability about sexuality education. Indonesian Journal of Cultural and Community Development, 2. https://doi.org/10.21070/ijccd201951Senn, T. E., Braksmajer, A., Urban, M. A., Coury-Doniger, P., & Carey, M. P. (2017). Pilot test of an integrated sexual risk reduction intervention for women with a history of childhood sexual abuse. AIDS and Behavior, 21(11), 3247–3259. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-017-1854-yStokes, M. A., & Kaur, A. (2005). High-functioning autism and sexuality. Autism, 9(3), 266–289. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361305053258Ulin, P. R., Robinson, E. T., & Tolley, E. E. (2005). Qualitative methods in public health: A field guide for applied research. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 37(7), 1249. https://doi.org/10.1249/01.mss.0000172593.20181.14van Hees, P. J. M., van der Plas, A. A., van Ek, G. F., Putter, H., Den Oudsten, B. L., den Ouden, M. E. M., & Elzevier, H. W. (2016). Discussing sexuality with patients with Parkinson’s disease: a survey among Dutch neurologists. Journal of Neural Transmission, 124(3), 361–368. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-016-1655-xVan Ouytsel, J., Walrave, M., Ponnet, K., Willems, A.-S., & Van Dam, M. (2019). Adolescents’ perceptions of digital media’s potential to elicit jealousy, conflict and monitoring behaviors within romantic relationships. Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, 13(3). https://doi.org/10.5817/cp2019-3-3Wu, J., & Zeng, S. (2020). Sexuality education for children and youth with disabilities in Mainland China: Systematic review of thirty years. Children and Youth Services Review, 116, 105197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105197Yu, B., Chen, X., Elliott, A. L., Wang, Y., Li, F., & Gong, J. (2019). Social capital, migration stress, depression and sexual risk behaviors among rural-to-urban migrants in China: a moderated mediation modeling analysis. Anxiety, Stress, & Coping, 32(4), 362–375. https://doi.org/10.1080/10615806.2019.1596673
