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Gender Identity & Expression

Gender identity is our internal sense of who we are, and gender expression is how we express our identity to others through how we act, clothing, hair styles, and personal characteristics. Understanding gender identity and expression is an important part of sexual health education as 2 in 5 transgender adults also identify as having a disability. It is important your child understands that healthy people and relationships often look different than the non-disabled and heteronormative representations in popular media. This resource list offers resources on understanding gender identity, expression, and sexual orientation.

LGBTQ activist holding rainbow flags
  • Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

    This website has a module to review topics such as sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and other LGTBQ+ information.

    Source: OAR (organization for Autism Research)

    Teens/Young Adults
  • Supporting Gender and Sexual Identity

    This resource hub provides articles and activities on a number of sexual health topics, including how to support your child with understanding their gender and sexual identity. It has explanations about gender identity and sexual identity and some teaching strategies.

    Source: Planet Puberty

    Parents
  • The Birds and The Bees

    This blog post discusses a lesson provided from The Birds and The Bees curriculum. It shares the activities in the lessons and what is discussed. This page specifically offers information on gender roles and identity

    Source: Sarah Curtiss, PhD

    Educators Parents
  • Gender Unicorn

    This graphic can be used to discuss gender, identity, expression.

    Source: Trans Student Educational Resources

    Educators Parents Teens/Young Adults Youth
  • Autism and Gender Identity

    From this webpage you can download the Gender Identity and Transgnder Guide which offers simple explanations about sex, gender, gender expression, transgender, etc. This guide also covers how to support a transgender person.

    Source: Elevatus

    Educators Parents Teens/Young Adults Youth
  • Gender Identity and Sexuality in Students with Autism and Other Disabilities

    This is a powerpoint presentation for parents and educators of youth with disabilities to discuss gender identity and sexuality in youth with Autism and other disabilities. Further, this resources helps parents and educators in addressing youth and disability needs as well as youth and gender-identity needs.

    Source: Cori Fraser, LSW Pittsburgh Center for Autistic Advocacy

    Educators Parents
  • U.S. Department of Education Supporting Transgender Youth in School

    This is a fact sheet for educators on how to assist transgender youth in the classroom. While this resource is not disability specific, it is a great information sheet for educators to share and discuss with one another to collaboratively support transgender students in schools.

    Source: U.S. Department of Education

    Educators
  • When Children with ADHD Explore Gender Identity: A Guide for Parents

    This article discusses the intersection of neurodiversity and gender diversity and how facets of ADHD can influence ones understanding of identity. The article provides information regarding how families can support a youth with ADHD in exploring aspects of their identity.

    Source: ADDitude- Sharon Saline, Psy.D., Julie Mencher, MSW

    Parents
  • The Gender Creative Child: Pathways for Nurturing and Supporting Children Who Live Outside Gender Boxes

    This book is for parents who are looking for ways to best support children and youth in understanding their own expression of gender. Dr. Ehrensaft explains the interconnected effects of biology, nurture, and culture to explore gender fluidity. The book provides terminology and descriptions of different gender affirming approaches.

    Source: Diane Ehrensaft

    Educators Parents
  • Gender Identity Videos

    These short videos cover a range of gender identities, gender expression, gender roles and stereotypes.

    Source: Amaze

    Educators Parents Teens/Young Adults Youth
  • Inclusion Guide for LGBTQ+ Students in the Classroom

    This website offers clear and helpful information to empower the teachers of tomorrow and make it easier to thrive in the profession by providing clear and helpful information such as knowing LGBTQ+ student's rights, how to create an inclusive classroom, and teaching LGBTQ+ subjects.

    Source: TeacherCertification.com

    Educators