Elevatus Training • Self-Study Course

Supporting Healthy Relationships and Sexuality for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

A 101 Self-Study Course for Professionals

A couple smiling at each other over coffee at an outdoor café

If you are like many professionals who support people with I/DD, you know relationship and sexuality issues need to be addressed, but you may not have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to do so. This self-paced, online course offers you a proven, nuts-and-bolts approach to discussing relationships and sexuality, and responding to behaviors.

Like many other professionals who have completed this course, you will come away feeling more confident and comfortable when discussing healthy relationships and sexuality with the people you support.

Updated & refreshed for 2026
Full agency use included
6 modules • 44 lessons
Reflection activities
Downloadable handouts
Completion certificate
Instant online access
Self-paced

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See What is Covered

Meet Your Instructor

Learn from a national expert on the subject

This course was developed and is taught by Katherine McLaughlin, M.Ed., an AASECT-Certified Sexuality Educator with more than 30 years of experience. Katherine is the founder, CEO, and lead trainer of Elevatus Training and the author of the Sexuality Education for People with Developmental Disabilities curriculum. She trains professionals, educators, families, and support staff to teach and talk about sexuality with confidence, and supports people with I/DD in becoming sexual self-advocates and peer sexuality educators.

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What this course covers

Six modules. A practical foundation.

Begin with the basics, then build toward the situations and conversations you encounter in your work.

Start With the Welcome Module
Get oriented to the online course and find the learning objectives, module descriptions, and course assessment.

00 Welcome Module

This module will help you get comfortable with the online learning format. It
will take you through all that you need to navigate the course site
successfully.

01 Getting Back to Basics

This module explores what sexuality and sexual self-advocacy mean. It examines messages that we received growing up about sexuality and how those impact our ability to talk about this topic. We will create positive messages to use in working with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Includes: a sexual self-advocacy pamphlet and worksheets on sexuality-related messages.

02 Sexuality 101

This module gets you up to date on Human Sexual Development and the issues regarding sexuality that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities face. You will gain a better understanding of how to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in their sexual development.

Includes: human sexual development handouts, an application activity, and resources for professionals.

03 Barriers to Being Effective

This module examines the barriers we face in communicating about this topic. We will explore our own values and attitudes and how those impact our ability to discuss this sensitive topic.

Includes: values-and-attitudes activities, a managing-your-values handout, and a bonus curriculum sample.

04 Answering Questions — Practical Tips and Tools

This module is designed to give you the tools to overcome any barriers you have to addressing this topic. We will explore the different types of questions and effective ways to answer them.

Includes: tips for talking about sexuality, types of questions, teachable moments, and a Scarborough Method worksheet.

05 Responding to Behaviors — Practice Tips and Tools

This module provides a framework for responding to sexual behaviors. We will explore different scenarios involving sexual behaviors and how you might respond to these behaviors in an effective and positive way.

Includes: practice scenarios, a hypothesis-and-approach handout, and additional scenarios.

06 Working With Parents and Guardians

This module will help you learn ways to build your relationship with parents. We will discuss tips for working with parents and guardians and for alleviating their concerns.

Includes: parent scenarios, tips and resources for working with parents, an assessment answer key, and certificate resources.

What you will learn

Skills you can use the same day

This is a nuts-and-bolts course — every module builds toward something you or a staff member can actually do on the job.

Talk about relationships and sexuality with more confidence and less discomfort

Answer hard questions in the moment, at the right level

Notice how personal values shape the support you give

Ground your work in the fundamentals of sexuality and sexual self-advocacy

Respond to behaviors with a thoughtful hypothesis and approach, rather than panic or punishment

Understand human sexual development and how developmental disabilities can shape that journey

Send positive, accurate messages instead of messages of fear

Respond to a behavior in a way that teaches, not punishes

Use downloadable handouts and worksheets with your teams and the people you support

Work in partnership with parents and guardians

What people are saying

“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 —

Who this course is for

Designed for the people who do this work

• Direct support professionals

• Program managers & administrators

• Teachers & educators

• Case managers

• Nurses & clinicians

• New staff during onboarding

One agency account covers your whole team, so you can bring on a new hire today and add the rest whenever you are ready.

What people are saying

“Katherine McLaughlin is a phenomenal trainer full of energy and knowledge. She is skilled at creating an extremely comfortable environment for people to learn about such an important and sensitive topic.”

— Katie Arnold, Community Support Coordinator —

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Build Your Confidence.
Strengthen Your Support.

Supporting Healthy Relationships and Sexuality for People With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A 101 Self-Study Course for Professionals

Six core modules plus welcome and orientation
Video training and reflection activities
Downloadable handouts and practice worksheets
Assessment and certificate resources
Email support for course and access questions

Note: After you complete your purchase, watch for a confirmation email from us with instructions and a link to access the course. If you do not receive this email, please check your SPAM folder.

Self-Study Course

$397

One agency account · unlimited staff

Course Includes

Welcome and orientation module

Six full video modules, newly re-recorded

Reflection activities in every module

Downloadable handouts, scenarios, and checklists

Course assessment

Certificate of completion (General and Washington State)

Learn at your own pace, any time

Email support for your questions

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🧾 Pay by card, check, or PO (purchase order)

Gain the skills and confidence this work requires

44 lessons • 6 modules + orientation • Certificate of completion • $397 for your whole agency

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Before You Begin

Your questions, answered

Have a question about whether the course is right for you? Contact Elevatus Training.

Who is the course designed for?

This course is designed for anyone who supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities — direct support professionals, managers, administrators, teachers, case managers, and clinicians. It works well for onboarding new staff and as a shared foundation for the whole team.

Can our entire agency use a single account?

Yes. One agency account covers your staff, so you can train new hires as they start and revisit the material whenever you need it.

How does my staff access the course?

If you are an agency/school buying this course for multiple staff, give the course URL link (to access the course), along with the username and password you set up, to anyone you want to access the course. Everyone shares one account. The login credentials are the same for everyone.

Is support offered if I have questions during the course?

Yes. For technical support, you may contact us via email at support@elevatustraining.com. For questions about course content, you may email Katherine (the course developer and teacher) at kath@elevatustraining.com.

How will I receive the course materials?

Once you purchase the course and create your account and profile, you will get access to the entire course, all of its modules, and supporting PDFs. You can log in at any time from any computer that has an internet connection.

What is the format of the materials included in the course?

The main content comes from a video, which is a narrated PowerPoint presentation. During the video, you will be asked to pause and complete activities using PDF handouts you printed or downloaded from the module. There may also be some videos to watch after the module video is complete.

How much time should I set aside for each module?

Each module takes about 90 minutes to complete.

Is there a way to prove I took the course so I can get credit from my supervisor?

Yes, the course includes an assessment and a general-use PDF Certificate. Download and complete the certificate, then submit it to your supervisor for their signature.

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Supporting Healthy Relationships and Sexuality for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Learn from a national expert on the subject

Six modules. A practical foundation.

Skills you can use the same day

What people are saying

Designed for the people who do this work

What people are saying

Build Your Confidence. Strengthen Your Support.

$397

Gain the skills and confidence this work requires

Your questions, answered

Build Your Confidence.
Strengthen Your Support.