Experiences of special education teachers in teaching adolescents with intellectual disability about sexuality education-a case study in Kota Samarahan, Sarawak

• Main Author: Anis Raihan, Dzeidee Schaff
• Format: Final Year Project Report
• Language: English; English
• Published: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) 2018
• Subjects: BF Psychology; L Education (General)
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/29087/1/Experiences%20of%20special%20education%20teachers%20in%20teaching%20adolescents%20with%20intellectual%20disability%20about%20sexuality%20education-a%20case%20study...%2824%20pgs%29.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/29087/4/Anis%20Raihan%20binti%20Dzeidee%20Schaff%20ft.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/29087/

This qualitative case study is conducted to explore the experiences of three Special Education teachers in teaching adolescents with intellectual disability about sexuality education at a secondary school that offers Special Education programme in Kota Samarahan, Sarawak. The study investigates the teaching approaches used to teach cognitive and social-behavioural aspects as well as challenges in teaching adolescents with intellectual disability about sexuality education. Interviews, document review, and participation observation methods were utilized to collect data. Findings of the study were analysed by using a thematic analysis procedure. In the cognitive approaches aspect, analysis of the data reveals that the adolescents'comprehension and memory is greatly aided by the use of concrete materials, modelling strategy, and constant repetition; attention and focus in class can be obtained by the use of multimedia and storytelling approach; and understanding about sexuality is affected by the language used. In the social-behavioural aspect, the findings revealed the importance of teachers and students' comfort when talking about sexuality, mixed gender classes, peer guidance, and the adolescents' intrapersonal intelligence. All these aspects are key in making sure that the adolescents are able to reach an understanding and acceptance towards learning about sexuality education. The study also discovered that limitation of teaching materials, the adolescents' unsupervised usage of the technology, and the sensitivity of sexuality education in the local setting are among the main challenges faced by the Special Education teachers in teaching about sexuality education. The study also uncovered how the adolescents' limited mental capabilities particularly in the social-behavioural domain has resulted in the adolescents displaying tendencies toward sexually risky behaviours which in turn exposes them to sexually risky situations.