Sex education for individuals with developmental disabilities represents one of the most critical yet underaddressed areas in behavior analytic practice. Despite overwhelming evidence that individuals with developmental disabilities face dramatically elevated risks of sexual abuse, exploitation, and related harms, systematic instruction in topics such as consent, personal boundaries, healthy relationships, and body safety remains conspicuously absent from many treatment programs.
Provider: BehaviorLive — via Florida Association of Behavior Analysis
Take This Course →Including ethics, supervision, and topics like this one. New live CEU every Wednesday.
Join Free →Sex Ed Solutions Sex education for individuals with developmental disabilities is not just about teaching facts—it's about empowerment, reducing risks, and ensuring safety. This intermediate-level workshop is designed to provide BCBAs with the critical skills needed to teach sex education to individuals with developmental disabilities, an area too often overlooked yet essential to safeguarding the well-being of this population. Research shows that people with developmental disabilities are at significantly higher risk of becoming victims of sexual abuse, with some studies indicating that up to 88.4% of women diagnosed with autism have experienced some form of sexual violence during their lives (Cazalis et al., 2022). Additionally, without proper education or understanding of social norms, social behavior, boundaries, and consent, individuals with developmental disabilities may unknowingly engage in behaviors that could lead to legal action (Lerner et al., 2012). Lastly, many professionals lack experience or training on how to provide sex education to individuals with developmental disabilities (Curtiss & Stoffers, 2024). This workshop is designed for practitioners seeking to enhance their skills in delivering sex education services. The content will focus on applying behavior analytic concepts, principles, and strategies across various developmental abilities and age ranges. Additionally, the workshop will address professional and ethical guidelines, ensuring that practitioners provide services within their scope of practice, maintain competence, and deliver services at a level that aligns with their comfort, all while respecting the individual's values, goals, and perspectives. Participants will learn how to (1) teach sex education concepts such as consent, boundaries, and healthy relationships to individuals, (2) complete a sexual risk assessment, (3) implement behavior-analytic teaching strategies to teach sex education topics effectively, (4) complete a self-assessment worksheet and (5) gain hands-on role-play experience. The workshop is delivered via lectures, group role-play sessions, and guided written program development. Attendees will engage in real-time problem-solving and skill-building exercises to apply the knowledge they gain. This interactive approach ensures participants leave with the foundation and practical tools necessary to address sex education in their practice confidently. During the group sessions, attendees will create and deliver lesson plans. All required materials, including the sexual risk assessment template, curriculum guides, self-assessment worksheet, and instructional materials, will be provided electronically. Due to the hands-on role-play experience, this workshop is limited to in-person attendees only. In-person attendees should bring a laptop or tablet and writing utensils to participate in the breakout sessions. By the end of this workshop, participants will better understand sex education teaching topics, assess the risks and benefits of teaching this content, and have more confidence in addressing this sensitive but essential topic. Please be advised that the content of this workshop covers sensitive topics related to sexual education, including the use of both proper and slang terminology for body parts. Attendees should be aware of the potentially sensitive nature of these discussions and ensure they are comfortable engaging in and participating fully in the workshop. By attending, participants acknowledge the importance of these topics and agree to approach the material with professionalism and respect.
| Certification Body | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|
| BACB® | 4 | Ethics |
| COA | 4 | — |
| FL MH/PSY | 4 | — |
Dr. Ally Dube is a doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analyst who has demonstrated proven success with the use of creative treatment approaches to challenging behaviors. Prior to board certification in 2015, Ally worked in the ABA field for 15 years. Ally has experience working with individuals of all ages and populations with a wide variety of communication abilities. In 2013, Ally co-founded Compass Innovative Behavior Strategies, a multidisciplinary New Hampshire-based behavioral health provider, where she served as the Chief Clinical Officer. Compass became the largest ABA service provider in NH, with 4 clinic locations, 150+ employees, serving hundreds of families. Compass was an award-winning company, gaining recognition from NH Business Magazine as the #1 Fastest Growing Family Owned Business in 2019 and the #1 Company to Watch for 2020. In July 2021, Compass entered into a merger with a national ABA provider. For 2 years, Ally oversaw all clinical services for the merged company in her executive role as Vice President of Clinical Services. Ally also served as President of the NHABA Chapter from 2020-2022, and she has been a mentor at Simmons University and an Adjunct Professor at Antioch University New England. In both teaching roles, Ally led Applied Behavior Analysis coursework for graduate students pursuing board certification. Ally currently serves as President of the Behavior Analyst Leadership Council, addressing the need for professional development opportunities, capacity building and the advancement of business interests within the field of Behavior Analysis. She is also the Founder and President of a non-profit organization called Safety, Outreach, Assessment and Resources (SOAR).
Dig into the research behind this topic — plain-English summaries written for BCBAs.
280 research articles with practitioner takeaways
279 research articles with practitioner takeaways
258 research articles with practitioner takeaways
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All behavior-analytic intervention is individualized. The information on this page is for educational purposes and does not constitute clinical advice. Treatment decisions should be informed by the best available published research, individualized assessment, and obtained with the informed consent of the client or their legal guardian. Behavior analysts are responsible for practicing within the boundaries of their competence and adhering to the BACB Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts.