Sexual risk behaviors of young adults with LD and the need for HIV/AIDS education

AIDS has become a leading cause of death among youth and young adults between the ages of 15 and 24. Given that there is no known cure for AIDS, effective and comprehensive health education is the strongest weapon available to prevent the spread of this deadly disease. The purpose of this exploratory study was to generate information that could be used to highlight the critical need to develop, implement, and evaluate comprehensive education for students with disabilities. Eighty-eight young adults with learning disabilities were recruited to complete a questionnaire. Fifty-one percent of the study participants reported that in high school they had engaged in behaviors that would put them at risk of contracting HIV and/or AIDS. Implications for future practice and research are discussed.