Name:​ Annabel Greenberg Teacher:​ Dauber

Class Period:​ 5/6

DO ​NOT​ MARK IN THIS BOX. The Speaker of the House will complete this box.

Bill Number: _________ Assigned Committee: _____________________________

Title: ​ Sexual Equality in Disabled Education

Topic: ​ Sexual Education for Disabled Students

What is the problem that Congress needs to address?

People with disabilities, intellectual, behavioral, or physical, receive little to no sexual education and therefore

experience higher rates of STDs and sexual abuse and assault.

Cite the evidence that supports the claim that this is a problem Congress should address.

In “Sex Education for Students with Disabilities,” it is explained that students with disabilities, especially

behavioral, may be more likely to engage in risky behavior. Additionally, less than 40% of those with severe

mental disabilities have discussed birth control and contraception with parents, meaning these students do not

feel as comfortable with topics such as sexuality, relationships, and sexual safety as other students. The

anatomical and mechanical functions of sex and sexual intercourse are also much less likely to be understood

with a learning disability. In 2018, the National Public Radio said women with disabilities are more than seven

times more likely to be assaulted, and less than 14% of those instances are with strangers, indicating those with

disabilities are often taken advantage of by those close to them. According to the Nation Crime Victimization

Survey, half of all adults with cognitive disabilities will experience at least 10 sexual abusive incidents in their

lifetime. In fact, “approximately 80% of women and 30% of men with a form of intellectual disability have

been sexually assaulted - half of these women have been assaulted more than 10 times” (Disabled World).

These issues begin with the censoring of material or complete exclusion of disabled students from sexual
education courses in school, as described by the University of Texas. In fact, the National Sexuality Education

Standards states there are no specific guidelines for disabled sexual education in any state.

What is the proposed solution to the problem stated above?

(a) Grades six through twelve must meet the same standards in their content for students with learning

disabilities as that of the state required general course in sexual education.

(b) Sexual education courses must include the necessary adjustments to ensure students’ learning and follow

all guidelines aligning with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), including but not

limited to:

(i) Alternate classes

(ii) Specially trained teachers

(iii) Altered schedules

(iv) Adjustments in curriculum

(c) Schools must appropriate a minimum of 10 percent of their per-student expenditures for funding of the

classroom adjustments.

(d) $60,000,000 shall be allocated in the form of formula grants.

(i) The funds shall be distributed to each state, and subsequently each school, proportionally based

upon population of students registered for special education.

(e) Schools may not charge the students’ families for any provided services or class adjustments under

section 504 of The Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Are there any penalties for non-compliance?:

Failure to comply results in withholding of the allotted funding until revisions are made.

Committee additions:

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TO BE COMPLETED BY THE COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON or SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

Committee Action: ​PASS ​or ​FAIL ​Floor Action: ​PASS ​or ​FAIL