Let’s talk about how to start sex education when you have a child with a disability, as we get a lot of questions about it in my free Facebook sex education group for parents, that parent group.
Here, you’ll find resources that have been created specifically for children with a disability. Many of them are resources that families and experts in Disability & Sexuality have shared with me.
I apologise if any of the language I use is offensive in regard to who the individual resources are intended for. I have copied over their description of the intended target group.
If your child is autistic or neurodivergent, then I have another list of sex education resources for parents of autistic and neurodivergent children & teens.
If your child is autistic or neurodivergent, then I have another list of sex education resources for parents of autistic and neurodivergent children & teens. As well as resource lists for ADHD & sexuality and FASD & sexuality.
If you know of a helpful resource that isn’t included on this page, please contact me so I can include it.
Sex education books for children with a disability
I have created a list of all of the sex education books for children with a disability. These are books I’ve individually reviewed, and each book has a video where I show you inside the book. You will find books to read with your child about puberty, body safety, sex, how babies are made and more.
FREE live support for parents
Each month, Mad Hatter Wellness in the USA offer a free call is a time for parents and caregivers to discuss relationship and sexual health concerns with one of their Education Specialists. All calls are hosted on Zoom and are free for anyone attending.
This is an incredible opportunity to have a personalised discussion with an expert about your questions and concerns.
Now, they are located in the USA, and their time zone is CST (Central Standard Time) or CDT (Central Daylight Time). And here is the Time Zone Converter that I use. I Have used a few different converters over the years, but this one is my favourite as it is simple plus it automatically identifies your local time for you!
Resource lists
Sex education. The Center for Parent Information & Resources has an extensive Sexuality Education for Students with Disabilities resource list to check out. Don’t forget to have a good look at their website, as there is lots of good stuff in there.
Sex education. RespectAbility in the USA also has an extensive list of Sexual Education Resources with resources for children, teenagers and adults with disabilities, with a focus on those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Sex education resources for children & teens (with a disability)
Sex education. Katie Thune and her team from Mad Hatter Wellness in the USA offer self-paced online courses for children and teens on gender & sexual orientation, puberty, reproductive & sexual health, and relationships, boundaries, safety and sexuality. They also offer a reduced rate for families with financial strain from the additional costs of raising children with a disability. Plus have a limited number of scholarships for families with financial limitations.
Sex education. Talking About Sexuality in Canadian Communities (TASCC) from Canada has online resources for youth with disabilities about growing up, taking care of yourself, dating, sexuality, social media, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. They also have a free online course for 12-24 year olds with an intellectual disability, about self care, boundaries, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, relationships & dating, and social media.
Sex education. Melissa Hochberg and Arlene Lechner from EASE Educates in the USA offer online classes for teens and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD). They have a class for teens in the 8th – 12th grade (USA) and for young adults aged 18+. Topics include consent, gender, social skills, relationships, boundaries, appropriate touch, friendship, communication, public & private, pornography, internet safety, body parts, caring for your body, masturbation, decision-making, dating (online & in-person), sexual feelings, sex & sexual activities, and STIs & Birth Control. These classes are expensive, but that is because they are small groups and lots of individual support is offered.
Sexuality, relationships & rights. SECCA from Australia has an interactive website, Sexuality, Relationships and Your Rights (SRAYR), which teaches people about their rights and the law related to their body, health, relationships and sexuality. It includes animated videos, pictures and easy English for teaching internet safety, unhealthy relationships, healthy relationships, becoming a parent, sexual health, your body, consent and more.
Sex education, puberty, relationships & online safety. Sexual Health Victoria in Australia offers a mix of live and self-paced online workshops for children with a cognitive disability, including intellectual disability, autism, and acquired brain injury. They are suitable for children between 8 and 16 years of age.
Sex education & more. SECCA in Australia has picture-based downloadable fact sheets in straightforward language to ensure access and understanding. Topics include feeling safe, protective behaviours, early warning signs, online dating, porn, cervical screening, gender diversity, sexting, safe sex, internet safety and more. They also have a downloadable book about sexuality, your rights and the law for people of all abilities.
Puberty. From Bloom Wellbeing in Australia, the Puberty Plus Online Program is a self-paced, instantly accessible online program created by Occupational Therapists. It acknowledges that children with a disability can find puberty challenging due to sensory issues, difficulty with change and transitions, or with social norms and constructs. You can purchase it as a handbook, the online course or as a handbook/course bundle.
Sex education. A YouTube playlist with sex ed videos for people with intellectual and development disabilities (ID/DD) from the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) and Rooted in Rights, with support from the WITH Foundation. Topics include sex, gender, healthy relationships, pregnancy & conception, and safe sex. These videos were made for and by people with I/DD, and there is also a Discussion Guide.
Sex education & more. Amaze.org have a video about disabilities and sexuality, as well as many other videos for tweens and teens. Watch them first to assess whether they are suitable (or not) for your child
Sex education. Sexual Health Victoria in Australia has fact sheets for teens and young adults with a cognitive disability. Topics include consent, sex, STIs & BBVs, healthy relationships, contraception, sexual behaviours, staying safe and getting help.
Sex education resources for parents
Puberty. Planet Puberty is an Australian resource that was developed to support kids with intellectual disability and autism in navigating a new world. It is a digital resource suite by Family Planning NSW that aims to provide them with the latest information, strategies and resources for supporting their child through puberty. You’ll find blog posts, books, printables, flashcards, videos and websites.
Puberty. The Healthy Bodies Toolkit from the Vanderbilt Kennedy Centre in the USA, is a resource for supporting children through puberty. They have separate resources for boys and girls.
Protective behaviours. The Feel Safe Protective Behaviours program by SECCA is a free online e-learning program to help 15-30 year olds with a disability to learn and practice the concepts of Protective Behaviours knowledge and skills. It covers the basics of protective behaviours as well as more advanced concepts such as problem-solving and emergencies, wanted and unwanted touch, internet safety, and pornography. It is designed as a tool that can be used to teach a young person with a disability.
Sex education. Katie Thune and her team from Mad Hatter Wellness in the USA are a treasure trove of educational tools, online courses, books and more. They have a Family Discussion Guide and Workbook to help you get started! Plus offer live online training for parents and carers on how to deliver sex education to a child with a disability. I have a copy of Katie’s book, and she is very knowledgeable.
Sex education. Melissa Hochberg and Arlene Lechner from EASE Educates in the USA offer online workshops for parents and carers of teens and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD). They have a 1.5 to 2 hour virtual workshop on How to Talk to Your Kids (of all ages) about Relationships & Sex.
Sex education. Katherine McLaughlin from Elevatus Training in the USA has a free 60 minute online workshop to help parents & carers feel more comfortable & confident when talking to their children. It covers the benefits of sex education, healthy boundaries, public vs private, friendships & relationships, body language, communication and speaking up. They also have a more in-depth course, Talking With Your Kids: Developmental Disability and Sexuality, at a reduced rate for parents. Their newsletter is also very informative and is one of the few that I read every time it hits my inbox!
Sex education. Katherine McLaughlin from Elevatus Training has shared a resource that is a good sex education starter for when your child has a developmental disability – GULP: Talking with your kids about sexuality? Even though it was written in 2003, it is still relevant and well worth a read.
Sex education. If you are unsure about how to support your child, then Katherine McLaughlin from Elevatus Training suggests reading this blog post – 3 Steps to Support Children with I/DD to Have Healthy Relationships. She also shared another helpful article on why talking with our young and grown children about sexuality is important.
Sex education. Teaching Sexual Health from Canada has a sex education guide for parents of children with differing abilities. It includes your child’s development and what your child needs your help to learn.
Sex education. Talking About Sexuality in Canadian Communities (TASCC) from Canada has online resources for supporting youth with disabilities on values, puberty & sexual development, hygiene, healthy boundaries, building friendships, dating & intimacy, and safer sex. They also have a free online course for parents of 12-24 year olds with an intellectual disability about self care, boundaries, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, relationships & dating, and social media. You can also submit questions and get them answered.
Sex education. The Arc (Harrison and Rockingham) from the USA have created a fantastic online sexuality resource for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities – HUB: Healthy Understanding of Our Bodies. It covers boundaries in relationships, human reproduction, puberty, consent and body autonomy, LGBTQ+, Sexual activity/contraception/masturbation, gender identity and expression, periods and menstruation, healthy relationships, and private versus public. You will find videos, lesson plans, storyboards and more.
Sex education. Sexual Health Victoria in Australia offers live or self-paced online workshops for parents and carers of young people with a disability.
Sex education. The SECCA App is designed for use by professionals, carers, and parents to share with their clients, students, and family members. It’s a free resource that is filled with lesson plans, images, videos, games and more. (NB. The sign-up page says you must be Australian. Ignore it and sign up anyway, as that is only there because it is a requirement of their funding).
Sex education. Kerri Isham from Power Up Sexual Health Education in Canada offers online courses for parents and carers of a special needs child or teen. You can either attend live or watch the pre-recorded version.
Sex education. Family Planning NSW also has some free and paid resources in their online store. Topics include masturbation (with a penis or vulva), seeing a sex worker, and bowel, cervical and breast screening.
Sex education. Special SexEd Materials from the SexEd Mart in the USA has a range of adapted resources to help children learn about safety, boundaries and healthy relationships. It includes toolboxes, activity kits, sequence cards and learning cards & booklets that are suitable for children with intellectual disabilites, developmental delays and austism spectrum disorders.