Sexuality and your Rights and Responsibilities (disability factsheet)

This factsheet presents messages in plain English. It is designed to assist families and workers to talk with a person with a disability about sexuality issues.

Rights

You have a lot of rights, here are some of them.

You have the right to:

• Have relationships with other people
• Be treated with kindness and respect
• Have some privacy and space to yourself
• Feel safe wherever you are
• Be believed and helped if you have been sexually abused or assaulted
• Get information in ways you understand.

Responsibilities

Having rights means also having responsibilities.

You have the responsibility to:

• Look after yourself the best you can
• Treat other people with kindness and respect
• Practise safe sex
• Let other people have some privacy and space to themselves
• Ask for help if you have problems
• Ask questions if you do not understand.

There are places that can help you to learn about your rights and responsibilities. It takes practice to learn how to do these things. Some things will be easy for you to do, other things will be hard. This is true for everyone, so don't worry.

Finding out more about your Rights

Who can help you find out more?

Intellectual Disability Rights Service (IDRS)
Phone (02) 9318 0144
Free call 1800 66 6611 (outside Sydney)

People With Disability (PWD) Inc
Phone (02)9319 6622
Free call 1800 422 015
TTY for people who are deaf 02 9318 2138
Hotline for help about abuse 1800 880 052

The Guardianship Tribunal
Phone (02) 9555 8500
Free call 1800 463 928

References

Sexuality and Your Rights / Family Planning NSW - a book to help people with an intellectual disability learn about sexuality and rights and responsibilities

Sex and the Law / Family Planning NSW

For more information

Contact the Healthine on 1300 658 886

Or email: healthline@fpnsw.org.au

NRS (for deaf) 133 677

 The information in this Factsheet has been provided for educational purposes only. FPNSW has taken every care to ensure that the information is accurate and up-to-date at the time of publication. Individuals concerned about any personal reproductive or sexual health issue are encouraged to seek advice and assistance from their health care provider or visit an FPNSW clinic.

 Reviewed June 2011