Panko
First Name
Tiffany
Middle Initial
L
Last Name
Panko
Department
Deaf Hub
Scholarship Year
2025
Research Center
Deaf Hub
Scholarship Type
Uninvited Presentations
Contributors List
Emma Kane, Jenna Stewardson, Tiffany L Panko
Project Title
Sex Education for Deaf/Hard of Hearing Students: Inclusion and Access
Start Date - Month
May
Start Date - Year
2023
End Date Anticipated - Month
March
End Date Anticipated - Year
2026
Review Types
Not Applicable
Student Assistance
Undergraduate
Projected Cost
$0.00
Funding Source
Operating Budget
Resulting Product
Conference poster
Citation

Kane, Emma, Jenna Stewardson, and Tiffany L Panko. "Sex Education for Deaf/Hard of Hearing Students: Inclusion and Access." RIT Undergraduate Research Symposium. RIT. Rochester, NY. 31 Aug. 2025. Poster Session.

Abstract

Comprehensive sex education is a type of sex education that provides accurate, comprehensive education on relationships, human sexuality, and reproductive health – only 10 states have this as policy. Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) individuals have inadequate health literacy, due to the language and communication barriers. Previous literature has shown that DHH individuals without language access are more likely to experience negative health outcomes. The study aims to investigate the current state of sex education for DHH students by administering a REDCap online survey. Participants had the opportunity to recall what topics were taught in their sex education classes and provide their opinions on “I Agree With” statements on a Likert Scale to assess their experience with and views on sex education. Findings show that Deaf and Hard of Hearing participants have reported that the implementation of gaming and peer educators will greatly improve their sex education experiences.

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