Benefits of Self-Advocates as Peer Sexuality Educators

Summary

People with I/DD have the right to sexuality education, and it works best when self-advocates help teach it. Peer-led classes feel more trusted and more real, and the self-advocates who teach them grow into experts in their own lives. Here is why the model works, with several free resources to help you bring it into your own classes.

One way to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) lead sexually healthy lives is to provide sexuality education classes. Here at Elevatus, we believe the most effective way to do this is to include self-advocates on the teaching team.

What are the benefits of peer-led sexuality education?

• Peer education has been shown to be an effective model for teaching.
• It supports the self-advocate philosophy, “Nothing about us without us.”
• When people with I/DD help build the class, the teaching is more accessible and more meaningful.
• Peer educators can speak to experiences that older materials left out, such as being LGBTQ+.

How do class participants benefit?

• Participants feel open with the teacher because the teacher understands them and their struggles.
• When participants see someone like themselves as the teacher, so much more seems possible.
• Participants see the teachers and themselves as part of the solution. 
• A teacher who has lived it is a trusted source, so people are more open to what they hear.
• Seeing a person with a disability lead the class shows that people with I/DD are sexual beings who belong in the conversation.

How do self-advocate instructors benefit?

• They feel empowered and proud because they are part of the solution.
• Helps self-advocates learn the content by being the teacher. You retain more information when you say and do something with the content.
• Teaching positions self-advocates as experts on their own sexuality and relationships.
• Many peer educators say the role had a positive effect on their own relationships and lives.
• Confidence grows with practice. As one educator said, “The more I discussed the topic, the more comfortable I became.”

Free peer-led sexuality education resources.

The good news is we are not the only ones who believe in this approach. I want to share these wonderful, FREE resources for teaching sexuality to people with I/DD.

The National Center for Independent Living, in partnership with Rooted in Rights, created a resource that demonstrates this unique and forward-thinking model. The teaching tool was developed by and for people with I/DD, and

There are 10 short video clips on various sexual health topics (YouTube), along with a discussion guide written in plain language that covers the same content as the videos. The following topics are covered

• Introduction
• Sex, Gender, and Genitals
• Puberty
• Masturbation
• Healthy Relationships
• Consent
• Pregnancy
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Infections
• Condom: how to use
• Conclusion

The reasons I found this resource so helpful are:

• People with disabilities are the teachers — nothing about us without us. 
• This is a way to bring more self-advocate voices into the classroom. 
• This resource dispels myths about people with disabilities and sexuality.
• It uses plain language, which is recommended for teaching people with I/DD.
• It gives positive, inclusive messages, which are part of high-quality sexuality education.
• Individuals can view, read, or both on their own.

This resource can supplement many of the lessons in our meant-to-be-team-taught sexuality education curriculum, Sexuality Education for People with Developmental Disabilities. For example, during either the contraception or sexually transmitted infections (STIs) lesson, you can show the condom video, which demonstrates how to put on a condom and is only three extra minutes in the class. Check it out and power up your ability to teach effective classes.

More free sexuality education resources.

The video series above is not the only free resource made by and for people with I/DD. Here are several more that are free to use and easy to share.

A Self-Advocate’s Guide to Safer Sex (Autistic Self Advocacy Network). The Autistic Self Advocacy Network is led by autistic people. Their free Proud and Supported series comes in Easy Read and plain language. It includes guides on safer sex and on sexual assault.

Sex Ed for Self-Advocates (Organization for Autism Research). This free online guide was made for autistic self-advocates. It teaches nine topics through short articles, videos, and quizzes. Consent, dating, and healthy relationships are all covered.

Sexual Self-Advocacy (Green Mountain Self-Advocates). Green Mountain Self-Advocates is a self-advocate-led group in Vermont. Their free materials treat sexuality as a positive part of life. They present it as a right that belongs to people with disabilities.

The Rainbow Guidebook. Three self-advocates wrote this free guidebook about being LGBTQ+ and having I/DD. It draws on interviews with 23 LGBTQ+ adults. It helps families and support people understand and show respect.

Free Sexuality Workbooks (Oak Hill). Oak Hill offers a seven-workbook series written in plain language for adults with I/DD. They cover healthy relationships, boundaries, consent, and safe decision-making. People can read them on their own or with support.

Impact, a Feature Issue on Sexuality and Gender Identity (Institute on Community Integration). The Institute on Community Integration at the University of Minnesota publishes this free issue. It shares personal stories, program profiles, and short overviews. It also gathers a long list of toolkits, videos, and guides.

Many of these resources were created by self-advocates themselves. That is what nothing about us without us looks like in practice.

By Katherine McLaughlin

Katherine McLaughlin, M.Ed., AASECT Certified Sexuality Educator, is the Founder, CEO, and Lead Trainer for Elevatus Training. She has been a sexuality educator and trainer for over 30 years. As a national expert on sexuality and intellectual and developmental disabilities, she trains professionals and parents, as well as people with I/DD, to become sexual self-advocates and peer sexuality educators.⁠