Curriculum: Sexuality Education for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD)

Evidence-informed, trauma-informed curriculum for people who need content and tools to teach sexuality classes to those with I/DD.

Finally, Everything You Need to Teach an Effective, Engaging Sexuality Class

You get the curriculum, the instructor manual, the scripts, the handouts, the tools — and the confidence to get started.

Teaching sexuality and healthy relationships can be deeply rewarding, especially when you are teaching a group of people who are often ignored by much of society.

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) want, need, and deserve sexuality education. Just like everyone else. Those who support them know this. But knowing it and delivering it are two different things.

If you are like most professionals, educators, and caregivers who work with people with I/DD, you probably have not received much — if any — training on how to teach this topic. You may feel confused, underprepared, uncomfortable, or unsure where to begin.

This curriculum changes that.

Developed by Katherine McLaughlin, M.Ed. — an AASECT-Certified Sexuality Educator with 30+ years of experience, it gives you everything you need to teach sexuality education with confidence and clarity.

Why Choose This Curriculum?

Evidence-Informed — as assessed (PDF) by an independent, outside expert

Trauma-Informed

Includes internet, social media, inclusive language, and all gender identities and expressions

Emphasizes sexual self-advocacy

Incorporates Disability Rights, Independent Living, and Self Advocacy

Why Choose This Curriculum?

Co-created by individuals with developmental disabilities

Age-appropriate and medically accurate

Field-tested and trusted by thousands of professionals and laypeople in the U.S. and beyond

Suitable for high school through adult

Easy to use, adaptable, and designed for real-world settings

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See What is Included?

The curriculum is very comprehensive and well done. I like the way I can pick and choose which units to use depending on the needs of my group. The lesson plans are user friendly, with clear language and great visuals for the handouts. I would recommend this curriculum to anyone interested in putting together a comprehensive sexuality education program for adults with developmental disabilities.

Linda Sandman University of Illinois-Chicago

Benefits of this Curriculum

Includes Everything You Need to Get Started

Every lesson includes a script, interactive activities, handouts, and teaching tools — Everything you need to present sexuality education classes in your agency or school.

Inclusive of all Sexual Orientations and Gender Identities

Includes a Gender Identity and Transgender guide with current terminology and ways to support LGBTQIA+ participants or students.

Promotes Sexual Self-Advocacy

It teaches participants about sexual self-advocacy. How to speak up about relationships and sexuality and also within relationships. Throughout the lessons, this term is referenced, and tools are used for practicing.

You Can Start Slow and Add Other Lessons

There are 22 lessons, but you can pick and choose what topics will work in your setting. Once you see how well the curriculum is received, you can add more topics to your class.

Involvement of People with Disabilities

Designed for and by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Having people with disabilities as part of creating the curriculum produced a cognitively accessible resource.

Focus on Abuse Prevention

Comprehensive healthy sexuality content with abuse prevention lessons and techniques

Interactive Opportunities to Practice Skills

Throughout the curriculum, participants have many opportunities to practice skills such as public versus private, meeting new people, and communication skills. These are done through skits, role-plays, and other techniques.

People With Disabilities as Teachers

This curriculum is designed to be team-taught with people with disabilities and staff, but it can also be used just by staff.

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I would like to share with you about the sexuality curriculum. It is the best one out there. It has pictures and easy-to-understand language. Katherine and Green Mountain Self-Advocates did an awesome job. We have used it where I work at the University of Illinois at Chicago. People really enjoy using it.

Tia Nelis Co-President of SABE

Included with the Curriculum

22 Well-Scripted Lesson Plans

High-quality, well-paced lesson plans designed by an expert in sexuality education. The lesson plan scripts help you to guide your class through the learning objectives and give you the words to say. The scripts model how to use inclusive language.

Teaching Tools

These accompany the lessons, make the learning more effective, and make your life easier.

Communication Boards & Cards (sold separately)

Communication boards and cards are assistive devices designed with graphics and words to support communication and assess understanding for people with limited and/or unreliable speech, trauma history, or anxiety.

Handouts

Visually pleasing with graphic representations for learning. Digital handouts and teaching tools in both English and Spanish are available upon request.

Instructor Manual

This manual helps you learn how to be a good sexuality instructor, how to set up classes, and many more practical skills for teaching this topic.

Curriculum Slide Deck (sold separately)

Our Curriculum Slide Deck is a companion product to assist people in teaching classes either on or offline.

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I literally am getting phone calls every single day from folks on Long Island looking for someone to provide this information. Your curriculum is incredible! I am so thrilled that I took your class and I’m able to provide this information in such a concrete and respectful manner. I want to appreciate all of the hard work you put into this. Thank you so much. You are truly changing the lives of so many families.

Laura H. Pace, MS All Ability Wellness, LLC

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Curriculum Only

$299

Curriculum Includes

22 Lesson Plans

Handouts

Teaching Tools

Instructor Manual

School-Specific Guidance

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Pay via check or PO (offline) or credit card (online).

Curriculum + Slide Deck

$474

Curriculum Includes

22 Lesson Plans

Handouts

Teaching Tools

Instructor Manual

School-Specific Guidance

Curriculum Slide Deck

Buy Yours Now

Pay via check or PO (offline) or credit card (online).

Curriculum + Communication Supports

$524

Curriculum Includes

22 Lesson Plans

Handouts

Teaching Tools

Instructor Manual

School-Specific Guidance

Communication Supports: Boards and Cards

Buy Yours Now

Pay via check or PO (offline) or credit card (online).

Curriculum + Communication Supports + Slide Deck

$699

Curriculum Includes

22 Lesson Plans

Handouts

Teaching Tools

Instructor Manual

School-Specific Guidance

Curriculum Slide Deck

Communication Supports: Boards and Cards

Buy Yours Now

Pay via check or PO (offline) or credit card (online).

The training modules and curriculum that Katherine has designed set the standard for sexual education for individuals with ID/DD. They are straight forward, sensitive, humane, and with compassion.

Dr. Robb Weiss Psy. D., BCBA-D

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the curriculum designed for?

This curriculum is designed to teach sexuality education classes to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Who teaches the course?

It is designed for teams of people with disabilities and staff to teach the curriculum. Some agencies and schools just use staff as the teachers. Either way, it is getting useful information and skills to people with disabilities.

What topics are covered in the lessons?

Topics include public and private, different types of relationships, decision-making and communication skills, relationship skills, sexual health, and many more.

What do you mean by well-scripted?

Since many people do not feel like experts in teaching sexuality, this curriculum tells you exactly what to say to get you started. It also helps if you include people with disabilities as one of the teachers. But really, everyone needs a little help when teaching this topic.

Tell me more about the teaching tools.

One of the hardest parts of teaching any topic is finding good tools to make your teaching more effective. All the tools needed for the activities are included, so you do not have to look any further. Many of the tools are photos to aid you in teaching.

How is this curriculum different from your other curriculum?

Please see this side-by-side comparison (PDF) showing the difference between this curriculum and our curriculum, Building Healthy Relationships at Work.

There’s a manual that goes with the curriculum; what does that include?

The manual topics are sexual self-advocacy, setting up your class, the role of a sexuality educator, challenges in teaching, and how to overcome these challenges. We can also provide additional training on how to teach sexuality education classes. Learn more about becoming a sexuality educator.

Is there a shipping charge?

We ship the curriculum via ground service for a charge of $16 per curriculum if shipped within the US and $35 per curriculum if shipped outside the US.

What happens after I order? How does the curriculum arrive?

The curriculum is a physical spiral bound book that will be shipped to you after payment or a purchase order is received. It typically takes 5-10 days to arrive.

Can I buy with a purchase order and check rather than online?

Yes, if your agency or organization requires this type of purchase, it is a payment option.

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