Evidence shows that children, young people and adults with learning disabilities are more at risk of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, gender-based violence and harmful sexual behaviour.
By improving the skills, knowledge and understanding around sexual health & relationships, we can help children, young people and adults with learning disabilities to have safe, happy and healthy relationships, a better understanding of the Law and their human rights and to know where to get help if required.
These resources can help to support learning.
The National Relationships, Sexual Health & Parenthood resource www.rshp.scot for children aged 3-18.
- Lesson plans are available within the ‘Levels’ section at the top of the RSHP homepage.
- Slides can be downloaded and adapted as required.
- Additional images are available at RSHP
- Additional ASN resources can be found at RSHP
- Resources for children with complex needs can be accessed at RSHP
- Social stories for Learners with Additional Support Needs (ASN) – RSHP
ASN Workbook
This Sexual Health workbook is designed to assist teachers, parents, carers and other professionals in delivering Sexual Health, Relationship and Parenthood Education to young people with a learning disability. It contains a range of topics, guided by Curriculum For Excellence Health and Wellbeing outcomes and benchmarks.
Whilst children and young people should access the National RSHP resource rshp.scot programme in schools, they may need additional one-to-one learning support.
Some exercises may need to be adapted, according to individual ability and learning styles.
Preparing for (and Surviving) Puberty
‘Preparing for (and Surviving) Puberty – a practical guide for parents and carers of children and young people with a learning disability’, this guidance provides information and advice for parents on a range of issues associated with puberty.
How Babies Are Made
How Babies are made – an easy-read resource to help children with learning disabilities, or primary school children, to learn about ‘How Babies Are Made’. To hear the Audio function, download and save the pdf and open it in Acrobat Reader.
Love Sex and You
Love, Sex and You – A booklet designed for young people and adults. Includes information on: Relationships, Sex, Contraception, Being Safer, Your Body and Where to get more information.
(Original booklet by Dorset People First and Dorset PCT. Adapted (with permission) to include NHS Forth Valley services.)
Be Safe, Have Fun by Common Knowledge (CKUK)
A popular website designed for use by young people and adults, aged 14 and over, with learning disabilities. Topics include body parts, consent, sex, contraception.
Visit ckuk.org.uk
Photostories
The stories can either be used online individually, used with a group on a large screen or be printed off as a comic book. For group work, learners may like to volunteer for character parts/narrator and read the script on screen.
Guidance notes are also available for educators/carers.
- Anna & Bob’s Story | Guidance Notes
- Callum and Denise’s Story | Guidance Notes
- Eric & Fraser Story | Guidance Notes
- Internet Story | Guidance Notes
What is Transgender?‘ booklet
This was created by the former LGBT Learning Disability Project at LGBT Health and Wellbeing, with funding from the Scottish Government and support from the Equality Network. It is an easier-to-read resource.
Easyhealth
A website containing easy-read information on a wide range of health topics, including sexual health.
Visit Easy Health
Routine Enquiry This form can be used in care planning/reviews or informal chats to encourage service users to talk about relationships, sexual health or abuse. It is recommended by Public Health Scotland Public Health Scotland’s ‘Gender Based Violence and learning disability- guidance for practitioners’.
Scottish Autism’s easy-read Relationships & Sexual Wellbeing Policy
Having a policy in your school/organisation helps your learners/service users to understand their Rights and staff to understand their role in supporting others.
Easy read policy adapted with permission from Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS.