Socialization and sex education 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

Not applicable Interventional City University of New York, School of Public Health · NCT06231485

This study is testing a new 6-week program to teach young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities about social skills and sexual health to see if it helps them understand these topics better.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment856 (estimated)
Ages16 Years to 27 Years
SexAll
SponsorCity University of New York, School of Public Health Academic / other
Locations1 site (New York, New York)
Trial IDNCT06231485 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial evaluates the effectiveness of a 6-week socialization and sex education curriculum called STEPS2 for young people aged 16-27 with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), including those with Down syndrome. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the STEPS2 curriculum or a comparison curriculum (STYH) and will engage in weekly virtual health education sessions. The study aims to measure improvements in sexual health knowledge and behaviors, including discussions with healthcare professionals and awareness of vaccinations. Outcomes will be assessed one year after enrollment to determine the curriculum's impact on participants' sexual health education.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are young individuals aged 16-27 with mild to moderate intellectual or developmental disabilities residing in New York State.

Not a fit: Patients who are pregnant or do not meet the age or residency criteria may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could significantly improve sexual health knowledge and behaviors among young people with I/DD.

How similar studies have performed: While similar educational interventions have shown promise, this specific approach targeting young people with I/DD is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* 16-27 years of age
* resides in New York State
* mild/moderate I/DD
* willing to receive either STEPS2 or STYH curricula
* able to complete curriculum in English

Exclusion Criteria:

* if female sex, self-reports pregnant at screening

Where this trial is running

New York, New York

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions KnowledgeBehavior
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.