Jones, Heidi Elizabeth PHD

INCLUDE Grants​

A Randomized Intervention Trial to Increase Access to Reproductive Health Services among Adolescents and Young Adults with intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Jones, Heidi ElizabethMcdermott, Suzanne W

In the United States, adolescents and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) are less likely to receive comprehensive sex education and to use reproductive health services than their non- disabled peers. We will test the efficacy of the STEPS-2 socialization and sex education program on increased access to reproductive health services for individuals aged 18-27 with mild to moderate I/DD in a randomized intervention trial. As one of the first such randomized trials among this population, the findings will inform best practices in sex education to improve the reproductive health of youth with I/DD as they transition from adolescence to adulthood, as well as best practices for incorporating individuals with I/DD in public health research.