This handout is a practical, reassuring guide to help parents and caregivers talk openly with children and teens with developmental disabilities about bodies, boundaries, and relationships.
It offers concrete, step-by-step suggestions for starting conversations, giving age-appropriate information, and using everyday “teachable moments” to build comfort and confidence over time.
This handout highlights simple strategies that make sensitive topics more manageable, including:
Initiating conversations when children do not ask questions on their own
Keeping explanations short, clear, and concrete
Using visuals, books, and role plays to practice skills in a safe setting
Staying calm when questions or behaviors catch you off guard
Partnering with trusted helpers and local resources for extra support
Grounded in a positive, rights-based view of sexuality and disability, this resource emphasizes that ongoing, honest conversations help young people build self-respect, safety, and healthy communication skills.
Ideal for: parents, caregivers, and family members of children and teens with developmental disabilities, as well as educators, clinicians, and support professionals coaching families on how to talk about sexuality.
Note: This document description was co-created with AI and reviewed by the Elevatus team for accuracy.
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.
