Research shows that disabled children and young people are three or four times more likely to be abused and neglected than children and young people who are not disabled. Disabled women are also twice as likely as able bodied women to experience domestic and sexual violence from their partners. 

It is therefore crucial that disabled young people have access to appropriate indepth information regarding sex and relationships including personal boundaries and consent to ensure that they are fully aware of dangers and know how to access support should they need to.

Disabled young people who attend mainstream schools report that they do not receive any specialised information linked to their disability in relation to sex and relationships.  Most resources currently available are focused on learning difficulties.  Having a physical disability generates a different set of complications including whether they can physically engage in penetrative sex and masturbation for example.  There are also issues of privacy, confidence, self image and self esteem which are more prevalent with young people who have physical and sensory disabilities which we believe need to be addressed