Sex and Medical Conditions

Since this topic was my group's presentation, I am more than a little familiar with the material.  But what I think is an overriding theme is people in these situations (cardiac challenges, spinal cord injuries and intellectual disabilities) and people, even without these challenges, all could be helped by sex education.  Imagine a sex ed class where the myth of asexuality is shattered once and for all?

A recent article in the New York Times highlighted a sex education program started by Julie Metzger. Like a stand-up comedienne, she presents anatomy to intercourse topics to an audience of mothers and daughters or fathers and sons.   Participating teen ask questions about sex by writing them on index cards which she reads and answers accurately but humorously. Metzger says this helps parents hear what teens are wondering about and opens the door for parents and kids to talk regularly about sex. Metzger, a nurse, was motivated to start this program because she noticed that kids either learn about sex in dry health classes for 10 weeks or maybe a 10 minute conversation with a parent.  Why not get parent and kid together and make it fun?

Make no mistake, teens attending Metzger's classes do not want to go initially. But in the end,  everyone gives the program high ratings.  The article describes Metzger's attempts to reach out to more culturally diverse demographics. Others wonder how transgendered teens could benefit from this program.  Here's my question: does Metzger include questions about sex and disabilities? One can only hope. In the meantime, she deserves credit and accolades for tackling sex education with humor and creativity.