Getting Started
I would like to provide sexuality education classes for the people we serve. Are there tools and/or training available to help us?
You can purchase our Sexuality Education for People with Developmental Disabilities curriculum. It has a manual to help you get started, 22 lesson plans, scripts, handouts, and teaching tools. Everything you need to get started. Some agencies buy the curriculum and get started, but others want more training on how to lead sexuality education classes. We offer a live 3-day Become a Sexuality Educator workshop, as well as in-service workshops to train staff teams and people with I/DD to use the curriculum and teach sexuality.
I am not sure where to begin. How do I figure out which product or training is right for us?
It depends on what your team needs most. If you want to start teaching sexuality education classes, our curriculum is a good place to start. If your staff members first need to feel more confident just talking about sexuality before leading a class, start with Developmental Disabilities and Sexuality 101, our self-paced online course. If you are a parent, we have a separate course and workshop just for you. Still not sure? Contact us, and we can help point you in the right direction.
What product or workshop will help staff feel more confident addressing sexuality with individuals they support?
Our online course: Developmental Disabilities and Sexuality 101, can meet this need. It is a self-paced, self-study, 6-module course that can be used repeatedly within your agency.
You can also hire Elevaus Training to provide on-site or virtual training on healthy relationships and sexuality for people with I/DD. Choose from a variety of existing training topics, or work with us to customize a program that meets your organization’s specific needs.
Many parents struggle with how to talk with their young and grown children about sexuality. Do you provide any workshops for parents?
We offer an online course especially for parents, Talking With Your Kids: Developmental Disabilities and Sexuality. Support agencies and other organizations also hire us to teach live workshops to help parents/caregivers learn how to talk with their children about sexuality.
Do you offer refunds for your products?
Yes. Please see our refund/return policy here.
We have never offered sexuality education before. Is it realistic to start?
Yes. Many organizations that use our curriculum have started from scratch. That is exactly what the curriculum was designed for. It gives your team a structured framework, so you do not have to figure out what to teach or how to say it. You can also begin with just a few lessons and add more over time once your team gains confidence.
Does our organization need any special credentials or certifications to use the curriculum?
No special credentials are required to purchase and use the curriculum. It is designed for teams of staff and people with I/DD to teach together, even if neither has prior expertise in sexuality education. The scripts and instructor manual walk you through exactly what to say and how to lead each lesson. For staff who want to build deeper knowledge and confidence, our Developmental Disabilities and Sexuality 101 course and our in-service training options are a great complement.
About Our Sexuality Education Curriculum
What topics does the sexuality education curriculum cover?
The curriculum includes 22 lessons covering a wide range of topics, including public and private behavior, different types of relationships, decision-making, communication skills, relationship skills, sexual health, sexual self-advocacy, and abuse prevention. Lessons also address internet safety, social media, and inclusive language. You can choose to teach all 22 lessons or select the topics that are most relevant to your group.
What is the difference between the main curriculum and the High Support Needs (HSN) curriculum?
The main Sexuality Education for People with Developmental Disabilities curriculum is designed for high school through adult learners with I/DD and uses scripted lessons, interactive activities, and visual handouts. The HSN curriculum is an adaptation created for individuals who need simplified concepts, more visuals, and more time to process information. It was designed by a special educator in collaboration with Elevatus. If you are not sure which is right for your group, [contact us] and we can help you decide.
What is the difference between the main curriculum and the Building Healthy Relationships at Work curriculum?
The main curriculum, Sexuality Education for People with Developmental Disabilities, is a broad sexuality education program covering relationships, health, self-advocacy, and more. Building Healthy Relationships at Work is a more focused curriculum designed to help people with I/DD navigate workplace relationships and become strong employees. It was developed in collaboration with Project SEARCH. A side-by-side comparison (PDF) is available on the curriculum page.
People with I/DD in our program have very different ability levels. Can this curriculum work for all of them?
The main curriculum is designed for high school through adult learners with I/DD and is written to be cognitively accessible. For individuals who need even more support — including simplified concepts, additional visuals, and more processing time — Elevatus offers a separate High Support Needs curriculum adaptation. The 22 lessons in the main curriculum can also be mixed and matched, so you can choose the topics and pacing that work best for your group.
What are the Communication Boards and Cards, and do we need them?
Communication Boards and Cards — as well as the Curriculum Slide Deck — are assistive tools designed with graphics and words to support communication and assess understanding. They were created for use with our curriculum, Sexuality Education for People with Developmental Disabilities, and are designed to support its lessons.
These tools are particularly helpful for participants with limited or unreliable speech, a history of trauma, or anxiety. They are sold separately and are not required to use the curriculum. However, many teams find them valuable for increasing participation, supporting understanding, and making lessons more accessible and interactive.
Can we get handouts and teaching tools in Spanish?
Yes. Digital handouts and teaching tools in both English and Spanish are available upon request.
How long does shipping take, and how much does it cost?
The curriculum is a physical spiral-bound book. Shipping within the US costs $16 per curriculum, and shipping outside the US costs $35 per curriculum. It typically arrives within 5–10 days after payment or receipt of a purchase order.
Can our organization pay by purchase order?
Yes. We accept purchase orders, checks, and credit cards.
About Our Building Healthy Relationships at Work Curriculum
What is the Building Healthy Relationships at Work curriculum, and how is it different from the main sexuality education curriculum?
Building Healthy Relationships at Work is a 12-lesson curriculum that helps people with I/DD navigate workplace relationships, become strong employees, and avoid or address harassment. It was developed in collaboration with Project SEARCH and focuses specifically on the employment context — co-worker relationships, workplace boundaries, communication, and sexual harassment prevention.
Our main curriculum, Sexuality Education for People with Developmental Disabilities, covers a broader range of topics including sexual health, abuse prevention, and personal relationships outside the workplace. A side-by-side comparison PDF is available on the curriculum page if you want to see the overlap and differences in detail.
Our organization works in competitive, integrated employment. Is this curriculum right for us?
Yes — it was designed specifically for this context. Building Healthy Relationships at Work was field-tested through Project SEARCH and written for instructors, job coaches, Employment First staff, and anyone supporting people with I/DD in competitive, integrated employment settings. The lessons use real-life workplace situations and teach concrete skills, such as how to interact with co-workers and customers, how to avoid harassing others, and what to do if you are being harassed.
Our leadership or funders are uncomfortable with the term “sexuality education.” Can we still offer something meaningful?
Yes. Building Healthy Relationships at Work covers many of the same foundational skills — public and private behavior, types of relationships, communication, decision-making, healthy and unhealthy relationships, and abuse prevention — within a workplace-focused frame that many organizations and families find easier to introduce. It is a practical starting point for programs that want to build toward more comprehensive sexuality education over time, or for settings where the employment frame is simply a better fit for the people you serve.
We already use the main sexuality education curriculum. Do we need this one too?
They complement each other but are not duplicates. If the people you support are in — or preparing for — competitive, integrated employment, Building Healthy Relationships at Work adds workplace-specific content. It includes, for example, how to interact with customers and co-workers at different levels of authority, and what healthy and unhealthy behaviors look like on the job, which the main curriculum does not cover as deeply. Many organizations use both, depending on the program or group. If that does not help you decide, feel free to reach out to us.
Who can teach the Building Healthy Relationships at Work curriculum?
It is designed for instructors, job coaches, Employment First staff, or anyone who supports people with I/DD in employment settings. It can be taught by a staff member alone or co-facilitated by a staff member and a person with a disability. Because the curriculum includes scripts for every lesson, you do not need to be an expert in relationship education to get started.
Does this curriculum address sexual harassment?
Yes. It includes lessons on healthy boundaries at work, how to avoid harassing others, and what to do if you or someone you support is being harassed. This content is especially important for people with I/DD entering competitive employment, who may not have had formal instruction on workplace norms and may be vulnerable to misunderstanding or exploitation in work settings.
Can this be used one-on-one as well as in groups?
Yes. While the curriculum is designed for group instruction, it can be easily adapted for one-on-one use. This makes it flexible for job coaches or support staff who work individually with the people they support rather than in classroom-style settings.
For Professionals and Agency Leaders
What is the business case for investing in sexuality education at our organization?
Supporting the full humanity of the people you serve is an important aspect of quality care, and there are practical reasons to address sexuality education as well. People with I/DD are at elevated risk for sexual abuse, exploitation, and negative health outcomes when they lack access to quality sexuality education. Providing education reduces risk, supports staff confidence, and demonstrates a commitment to person-centered, rights-based care. Many funders, accreditors, and regulatory bodies increasingly expect organizations to address sexuality as part of comprehensive support services.
How do we get buy-in from leadership or a board to support this work?
Many organizations find that beginning with a conversation about rights, dignity, and quality of life helps create a strong foundation for this work. The evidence consistently shows that people with I/DD have the same sexual rights as everyone else and benefit from having access to accurate information, support, and opportunities to build healthy relationships.
Elevatus’s independent assessment report and evidence-informed report can be valuable resources for sharing this information with leadership, offering a credible and research-based framework for considering curriculum adoption or staff training.
For organizations that are just getting started, a pilot program or introductory staff training can be a comfortable first step, allowing teams to build knowledge, confidence, and organizational support over time.
Can we use this curriculum across multiple sites or programs?
Each curriculum is licensed for use by the purchasing organization. If you operate multiple sites and want to explore how to roll out the curriculum organization-wide, contact us to discuss options that fit your structure and scale.
About Staff Training and Readiness
Our staff feel uncomfortable talking about sexuality. Is that normal, and can training help?
Very normal. Many people — even experienced professionals — feel uncomfortable with this topic at first, and that discomfort can get in the way of providing good support. Our Developmental Disabilities and Sexuality 101 course was specifically designed to address this. It helps staff gain knowledge, explore their own values and attitudes, and build the practical skills they need to discuss sexuality with more confidence. An in-service workshop version is also available if you prefer to bring training directly to your team.
How many staff need to be trained before we start teaching the curriculum?
There is no set number. The curriculum is designed to be team-taught, ideally with a team that includes a person with a disability and a staff member or educator. Some organizations begin with a small pilot team of two people. Others train a larger group before launching a class. What matters most is that whoever leads the class feels prepared — and the curriculum’s scripts and instructor manual are specifically designed to support that readiness.
We want to become more independent in offering sexuality training to our own staff and families. Is that possible?
Yes. Our three-day certificate training, Becoming a Sexuality Educator and Trainer, is designed for people who want to lead sexuality education classes and staff or parent trainings within their own organizations. Completing this training gives you the knowledge, skills, and confidence to build internal capacity over time.
For Parents and Caretakers
My child is an adult with I/DD. Is it too late to start sexuality education?
It is never too late. Sexuality education for adults with I/DD is not just for adolescents — adults benefit from learning about healthy relationships, communication, consent, and self-advocacy at any age. Research confirms that adults with I/DD who receive structured, accessible sexuality education show meaningful improvements in knowledge and confidence. If your child is part of a school or agency program, you can ask whether they offer sexuality education. If you want tools to start conversations at home, our Talking With Your Kids course and workshop can help.
I want to talk with my child about sexuality, but I do not know where to start or what to say.
That is exactly what our Talking With Your Kids: Developmental Disability and Sexuality course and live workshop are designed for. You will learn what topics to cover, when, and the most effective ways to have these conversations with your child. Starting with body parts, privacy, and safety — using concrete, consistent language — is a strong first step regardless of your child’s age or ability level.
I am worried that teaching my child about sexuality will put them in unsafe situations.
Research and experience show the opposite to be true. People with I/DD who do not receive sexuality education are more likely to be abused or taken advantage of. Without information about consent, personal rights, healthy relationships, and warning signs of unsafe situations, they may be less able to protect themselves. Healthy relationships and sexuality education that includes safety and abuse prevention helps people recognize risks, set boundaries, and seek help when needed.
General Info Regarding Sexuality Education for People with I/DD
Why is sexuality education important for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities?
People with I/DD are sexual human beings with the same rights to information, healthy relationships, and self-determination as anyone else. Research consistently shows that people with I/DD who receive structured, accessible sexuality education demonstrate greater knowledge, improved boundary-setting, and a stronger ability to identify unsafe situations. Unfortunately, this population is often excluded from sexuality education — and that gap increases vulnerability to abuse and exploitation. Providing good sexuality education is one of the most meaningful things an organization can do for the people it serves.
Is sexuality education really appropriate for people with significant support needs?
Yes. Every person, regardless of the level of their support needs, deserves access to age-appropriate and accurate sexuality education. Sexuality education covers much more than sexual behavior — it includes body awareness, relationships, consent, communication, privacy, and self-advocacy. These are skills that benefit everyone. Elevatus has also developed a separate curriculum specifically adapted for people who need simplified concepts, more visuals, and more time to process information.
Will providing sexuality education encourage sexual behavior?
This is one of the most common concerns we hear — and the evidence does not support it. Comprehensive sexuality education helps people make informed decisions, communicate more effectively, and better protect themselves. Withholding information does not eliminate sexual development or interest; it leaves people without the knowledge they need to navigate their lives safely. People with I/DD want, need, and deserve high-quality sexuality education as part of their basic human rights.
About Self-Advocates
What is Elevatus Training’s philosophy and approach to the self-advocacy movement?
At Elevatus Training, self-advocates play a crucial role in our mission. Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities not only deserve access to accurate information but also the empowerment to make informed, healthy choices.
We wholeheartedly value their contributions and consider them essential partners in shaping the conversations, classes, and resources that impact their lives. Together, we embrace the guiding principle: nothing about us, without us.
How do you define Self-Advocate and Sexual Self-Advocate?
As we use the term, a self‑advocate is a person with I/DD who speaks up for themselves. They share their ideas, ask for what they need, and take part in decisions about their own life instead of letting other people decide everything for them.
A sexual self‑advocate is a person with I/DD who speaks up about their body, feelings, and relationships. They get clear information about sexuality, say what they do and do not want, set limits, and respect other people’s limits as well. Sexual self‑advocacy means using your voice to make safe, healthy choices in relationships and to protect your rights as a sexual person with a disability.
Why does Elevatus involve self-advocates in developing its products?
People with I/DD know their own lives, needs, and questions best. By including self-advocates in product development, our products and trainings are more cognitively accessible, more relevant, and more aligned with real-world self-advocate needs.