Learn how to use communication boards and cards to support consent, participation, and sexuality education for people with I/DD and limited speech. Read more about: How to Use Communication Supports in Sexuality Education for People With I/DD
Most people with I/DD encounter pornography at some point, often with less preparation to understand what they are seeing than their peers. This guide helps parents and support professionals respond to that moment without panic and shows how to turn it into an ongoing conversation using pornography literacy. It also covers when pornography use crosses into a bigger concern that needs more than a conversation, and what agencies should have in place so staff and families are not figuring this out alone. Read more about: When Someone You Support Is Watching Porn: A Guide for Parents and Staff Supporting People with I/DD
Knowing the correct medical terms for sexual body parts supports bodily autonomy, safety, clear communication, and protection from harm. This article provides accessible guidance for self-advocates, families, and supporters on sexual anatomy, using respectful language and resources tailored for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Read more about: Inside and Out: Understanding Your Body – Sexual Anatomy and Medical Terms for People with I/DD
By the end of this article, you will understand why family acceptance matters for LGBTQ+ people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, what to do when families struggle to provide that acceptance, and how to help build a supportive chosen family. Read more about: The Power of Acceptance and Chosen Family for LGBTQ+ People with I/DD
By the end of this article, you will have simple, practical tools to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities start, continue, and end conversations with greater confidence. Read more about: Let’s Talk: Simple Conversation Tips for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Talking with your child about relationships and sexuality can feel intimidating, but staying quiet leaves them without the tools to build healthy ones. This article offers three steps: share positive messages about relationships, discuss what a romantic/sexual relationship is, and share your own values as these conversations come up. Read more about: 3 Steps to Support Children with I/DD to Have Healthy Relationships
TV and film increasingly show people with I/DD in real relationships — even though actors with disabilities are rarely cast in these roles. This lesson turns four scenes from Atypical, Glee, and Everything’s Gonna Be Okay into a discussion-based teaching tool for relationship and communication skills. Read more about: How to Teach Relationship Skills to People with I/DD Using TV and Film
Many parents need support discussing sexuality with their child who has intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). This article provides practical, age-appropriate tips to help initiate conversations, answer questions, and build open communication. Read more about: 17 Tips for Talking About Sexuality — For Parents of Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
With summer starting to wind down, many people are getting into the back-to-school mindset. Think back to your health/sex ed class days. What was it like? What messages did you receive? Over the decades, there have been some big shifts in the way we approach sexuality.
I love this clip from Comedy Central’s Alternatino (Youtube). While I do not believe talking with your child about sexuality is just one conversation, this clip is a great example of the generational differences that can pop up when we have conversations about this topic. We have a lot to learn from each other. However, the main message is that we are all sexual beings and have the right to comprehensive, medically accurate, and age-appropriate sexuality education. Read more about: What the “Sex Talk” Looks Like Now
This is a free lesson for teaching healthy boundaries to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). It covers four types of relationships and how we touch and talk in each one. Educators, support professionals, parents, and self-advocates can use it in everyday teaching. A free printable handout is included. Read more about: Healthy Boundaries Lesson for People with I/DD
