Improving reproductive health access for young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
A Randomized Intervention Trial to Increase Access to Reproductive Health Services among Adolescents and Young Adults with intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
This project offers a tailored sex education and socialization program to help young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities get better access to reproductive health services.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11317021 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be invited to join a randomized program testing an updated sex education and socialization curriculum called STEPS-2 for people with mild to moderate intellectual and developmental disabilities. About 856 participants aged 18–27 who get services from disability providers in New York will be randomly assigned to either individualized home sessions of STEPS-2 or a group-based physical exercise and nutrition program at a local community center. The study is organized by region, sex, and age, and staff will collect interviews before the program, right after the 6-week program, then at 6 and 12 months. The main outcome is whether participants report having had conversations about sex and reproductive health and related access to services over the follow-up period.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are young adults aged 18 to 27 with mild to moderate intellectual and developmental disabilities who receive services from disability providers in the listed New York developmental disability regions.
Not a fit: People younger than 18 or older than 27, those with severe or profound intellectual disability who cannot engage in the curriculum, or individuals who do not receive services in the participating New York regions are unlikely to benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could help young people with I/DD gain knowledge, communication skills, and easier access to reproductive health care.
How similar studies have performed: Some previous sex education programs for people with intellectual disabilities have shown promise, but large randomized trials using an updated, individualized curriculum like STEPS-2 are still limited.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcdermott, Suzanne W — Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy
- Study coordinator: Mcdermott, Suzanne W
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.