Summary
Adults can support youth who are blind through
the phases of sexual development. First and fore-
most, listen. Instead of stating your opinion, try to
understand the child's point of view. Let the child
know you are open to talking by seeking
"teachable" moments, such as while driving in a
car together. Don't wait for the child to ask ques-
tions. Know and practice saying messages, and if
you don't know the answer, look it up together.
Find out what the school is teaching and provide
age appropriate reading material. Most impor-
tantly, the child needs to feel supported in each
stage of development, so stay actively involved in
the child's life and help the child plan for the fu-
ture.
This article provides an introduction to sex-
ual development. Professionals can guide par-
ents in supporting their children who are blind by
researching normal sexual development and
demonstrating how to make adaptations so that
children who are blind can reach their develop-
mental milestones.
References
Hock, R. R. (2010). Human sexuality, Second
Edition. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey:
Pearson Education, Inc.
Steingraber, S. (2007). The falling age of puberty
in US girls: What we know, what we need to
know, Breast Cancer Fund Repo
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