LGBTQ resources are an important part of comprehensive sexual health education as anywhere from 42 – 55% of persons with a disability are also a part of the LGBTQ+ community. It is important that your child understands that healthy relationships can, and often do, look different than the non-disabled and heteronormative examples most often presented by the media and current sexual health curriculum. This list of resources offers specific information about supporting youth with IDD who identify as LGBTQ, but also general resources for helping youth with IDD understand concepts like gender and sexuality.
Teens can go through modules to review topics such as sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and other LGTBQ+ information.
Source: OAR (Organization for Autism Research)
This organization provides information, guides, and articles on supporting LGBTQ youth with disabilities. There are also peer-lead online mentoring opportunities
Source: I CAN Network
This site offers suggestions of how to discuss multiple sexual health topics and specifically offers guidances and information on LGBTQ identity.
Source: Sarah Curtiss, PhD
This plain language resource helps people understand the language and meaning behind some of the vocabulary words regarding gender and identity. This resource provides graphics to support student understanding and provides short but direct definitions.
Source: Advonet, CHANGE and Yorkshire MESMAC
A guide to support service providers in working with autistic lgbtqa+ youth. This guide gives tips on what staff should do with youth and their rights. At the end of the guide, resources are listed with different topics.
Source: I Can Network
A guide for parents to help their their autistic lgbtqa+ youth. This guide gives tips on supporting youth and how to facilitate some conversations. At the end of the guide, resources are listed with different topics.
Source: I Can Network
A guide for autistic lgbtqa+ youth. At the end of the guide, resources are listed with different topics.
Source: I Can Network
This is a factsheet for parents and educators of youth with disabiltiies. This factsheet provides information on LGBTQ+ terms and clearly defines them for easy understanding. This resource also has links to more resources to access.
Source: PEATC
This is a 3 part series on working with and supporting LGBTQ+ people with disabilities. You have to make an account for this training series but it is free.
Source: The George Washington University
This plain language handout developed by self advocates provides basic definitions of many LGBTQ+ terms.
Source: Green Mountain Self Advocates
Rainbow Groups offer online support groups open to adult LGBTQ+ self-advocates. Rainbow Groups also provide videos and resources created by and for LGBTQ+ adults with IDD and delivers trainings on gender, sexuality, and LGBTQ+ identity in the IDD community.
Source: We Are Mass