Supported Loving
Resources for staff, supporters and family members
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Information for staff, supporters and family members
Educational courses/information on sexuality and relationships
Free Resources
- Relationships toolkit (Highland Learning Disabilities and Relationships Group)
- Sexual health, relationships and parenthood (NHS Forth Valley)
- Sexual health resources for professionals (Brook Publications) for young people, but also useful for adults
- Sexual expression training pack for people with learning disabilities Brook with extensive support form David Stuart and Sarah Bustard
- Sex and Relationships E-learning Free online course from Wirral Mencap for STAFF
- BBC Learning Zone PSHE SEN clips Free videos on a range of topics including inappropriate touch, masturbation and wet dreams
- Going Further- Free sex and relationships education pack
- Jiwsi - Pick & Mix of Sex and Relationships Education Activities - Free resource from the FPA
- Puberty and Sex- for working with young people and children with disabilities
- Childnet - staying safe online a course for children but could be used with adults
- Organization for Autism Research have a free guide on sexuality and sex education
- Puberty and sexuality for children with disabilities from the RSE Hub
- Talking about sex, sexuality and relationships: Guidance and standards from The Open University Sexuality Alliance
- Let's talk about sex, intimacy and relationships an interactive resource
- Talking About Series from the Sexual Lives and Respectful Relationships Group
- Daughters of Fortune arts-based resources for health and social care professionals relating to parents with learning disabilities
To Buy
- Books Beyond Words A collection of four picture books for people with learning disabilities that can be used to explore relationships, sex, love and friendship.
- All About Us A self-study learning tool that can be used by someone with a disability on their own or with support. Covers topics including relationships, contraception, STIs and public/ private issues
- Talking Together Books FPA A set of 3 books addressing -Contraception -Growing Up -Sex and relationships
- Sex and the 3'Rs: Rights, Risks and Responsibilities Michelle McCarthy and David Thompson
- Sex and Relationships Education for Young People and Adults with Intellectual Disabilities and Autism Kelly Asagba, Sophie Doswell and Jan Burns
- Let’s Talk about Relationships and Sex: Trainer’s Guide From the Down's Syndrome Association
- You, Your Body, Growing Up, Relationships and Sex DVD and lesson plans from Life Support Productions
- Sex was Rude, Now its Real interactive educational course in understanding sexuality & relationships for Autistic people
- Talkabout Sex and Relationships 1: A Programme to Develop Intimate Relationship Skills A toolkit for all anyone who delivers relationship education to people with learning disabilities
- Image in Action The Confidence Factor, Lets Do It and Lets Plan It- three different packs covering a range of topics and lesson plans on sex and relationships
- Picture Yourself Social and sex education Sets of line drawings and photographs for use in sex and relationships work
- Songs for Your Body Songs to help people with severe learning disabilities learn about sex and relationships
- Things Tom/ Ellie Like Picture books about masturbation
- What are relationships? A book for autistic people addressing relationships
- What's happening to Tom/ Ellie? Picture books about puberty
- What is...Personal Space?: A book for young people with autism, developmental and intellectual disabilities
- U-Night Group offers a DVD training pack on Staying Safe in Relationships contact Sue Sharples
Books
- Practical guidance on sexuality and relationships (Pavilion Publishing) - many Supported Loving members contributed
- Supporting people to develop relationships (National Development Team for Inclusion
- Supporting disabled people with their sexual lives (Tuppy Owens with Claire de Than)
- Sexuality and severe autism A Practical Guide for Parents, Caregivers and Health Educators
LGBTQ+ and gender
- Challenging homophobia and heterosexism (Norah Fry Research Centre
- LGBT resources a selection of various resources from LGBT health and wellbeing
- A teaching tool for exploring the concept of gender (The Genderbread Person)
- Transgender Easy Read Guide For Web created by CMG with Choice Support and Change
- This is me: the girl who was really a boy A picture book about being transgender
- LGBTQ+ easy read booklet from CHANGE coving the full range of LGBTQ+ identities
Regulatory guidance
- Relationships and sexuality in adult social care services Guidance for regulators from the Care Quality Commission
- Supporting meaningful relationships (Skills for Care) - creating a workforce development programme with a sample training course
- Promoting sexual safety through empowerment Guidance for regulators from the Care Quality Commission.
Sexual abuse/sexual safety/ sexual exploitation
- Ann Craft Trust has some resources about sexual abuse and safeguarding policies
- Love Care:fully Sue Sharples Churchill Fellowship report, exploring sexual safety for adults with learning disabilities: lessons learnt from the USA and Canada
- Helping Each Other sexual exploitation project by ARC including full worksheets, videos and resources
Capacity and consent
- Practice guidance toolkit for assessing capacity to consent to marriage (My Marriage, My Choice)
- Exploring Sexual and Social Understanding by BiLD can be used to assess sexual knowledge and capacity- must be ordered direct from publishers
- Sexual knowledge and behaviour assessment tool for assessing levels of sexual knowledge and understanding before and after a programme of sex and relationship education
- Capacity to consent to sexual relations guidance from BPS on capacity on a range of issues relating to sex
- Grandpa on a Skateboard: the practicalities of assessing mental capacity and unwise decisions designed very specifically as a practical guide for anyone who is being asked to undertake a capacity assessment
Women's health
- Supporting Women with Learning Disabilities Through the Menopause is a manual and training resource for health and social care workers.
- The Autism-Friendly Guide to Periods is a detailed guide for young people aged 9 to 16 on the basics of menstruation
- Periods: a practical guide from Bodysense
- My Pregnancy, My Choice a series of accessible booklets for women with learning disabilities surrounding pregnancy
Others aids
- Half life-size anatomically correct cloth models to be used in a range of ways to help explain sex and relationships
- A full-scale model showing the female genitals and sexual organs, inside and out
Disclaimer
The organisations and services listed on this page are here to assist you and are provided in good faith.
Their inclusion does not imply that Supported Loving nor Choice Support endorses or supports them, nor does the absence of any other organisations or services, who are not included, imply that Supported Loving and Choice Support does not support them.
Supported Loving and Choice Support cannot be held responsible for any damage or loss caused by any inaccuracy in this information, or on linked sites/pages. Supported Loving and Choice Support cannot control and is not responsible for the privacy practices of any site to which a link is provided. It is recommended that you read the privacy policy of any site you visit, particularly if you are asked to give personal data.
Every care is taken to ensure that the information listed is accurate. If you discover any information which you believe to be inaccurate, please let us know.
What is Supported Loving?
For people with learning disabilities finding love is often more than just chemistry – it can come down to getting the right support from your staff.
Read more
Supported Loving network
Supported Loving is not a formal membership organisation. Anyone can take part, it is free.
Read more
Supported Loving toolkit
The Supported Loving network has produced a series of guides to help support people with learning disabilities with issues around sex and relationships.
Read more