Accessible Information About Relationships, Contraception, Family Planning, Support, and Safeguarding

 

Everyone has the right to receive information about relationships, sexuality, contraception, family planning, pregnancy, and becoming a parent in a way they can understand.

For many people with learning disabilities and other disabilities, this information was not always available in the past. Some people received little or no education about relationships or sexual health. Others were discouraged from having relationships instead of being supported to make informed choices.

Accessible information should include:

• Healthy friendships and relationships.
• Consent and personal boundaries.
• Sexual health and preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
• Contraception and the different methods available.
• Family planning and pregnancy.
• Preparing for parenthood.
• Looking after a baby or child.
• Where to get advice and support.
• How to recognise abuse, exploitation, or unhealthy relationships.
• How to report concerns and access safeguarding support.

Information should be provided in ways that meet each person's communication needs, such as Easy Read, plain language, pictures, videos, symbols, audio, or one-to-one discussions. People should have opportunities to ask questions without embarrassment or fear of being judged.

Professionals, families, and support workers should encourage open conversations while respecting privacy, dignity, and the person's right to make their own decisions whenever they are able to do so. If someone needs extra support to understand information or make decisions, this should be provided in a person-centred way.

Providing accessible information helps people make informed choices, build healthy relationships, stay safe, and understand both their rights and their responsibilities. It supports equality, independence, and inclusion, while ensuring that safeguarding measures are available when needed.

"When I was younger, accessible information about relationships, contraception, and family planning was not readily available. This meant that many people with disabilities did not receive the knowledge they needed to make informed choices. Today, services have a responsibility to provide clear, accessible information so that everyone has the opportunity to understand their rights, responsibilities, and the support available to them."

Including a reflection like this shows how practice has changed over time and why accessible information is so important.