Dating is often a hot subject. With the rise of social media and mobile apps, there are infinite opportunities to meet your romantic match. However, when it comes to teens and adults with special needs, there may be fewer opportunities to make a love connection. First, it is important for those with special needs to understand what they are feeling, and the type of companionship that is best suited for their own emotional health.
Most schools offer some type of curriculum for teaching sexual health. From a moral and health standpoint, it is crucial that they are able to comprehend what is going on with their bodies and their emotions. According to some experts, adolescents with disabilities such as cognitive, physical, and emotional, engage in dating and sexual activity at similar or higher rates as other adolescents.
Sounds surprising? Well, prevalence studies specific to the dating and sexual activity of adolescents with special needs disabilities are rare; but there is research that suggests that special needs individuals are at higher risk than other adolescents. These studies found that adolescents with special needs are more vulnerable to experience forced sex, often because of the high occurrence of low self-esteem and struggle with effective communication skills.
From a religious view, some parents may feel more comfortable talking with the special needs child about dating and the consequences of sex before marriage. And there are different opinions on whether talking to the child about it, is an invitation to explore. Proper education is crucial for real-world scenarios. Qualitative studies show that families often have a strong influence on the dating and sexual health decisions of adolescents with disabilities. But dating is not necessarily about sex.
It is also important for them to understand that is may not always be about a romantic connection. Having a network of friends in which they can experience a healthy social life, is essential to becoming accustomed to the dating world.
