Resources

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Proud and Supported Resources

Easy to Read and Plain Language

LGBTQ+ Identities and Community

  • Advice For Someone With A Disability Who Wants To Come Out Or Explore Their Sexuality
    Thomas Caswell is a gay autistic man. He did a project for SARTAC where he made resources for other LGBTQ+ people with disabilities. This is one of those resources. It is advice Thomas has for people with disabilities who want to come out or explore their sexuality.
    Source: Thomas Caswell, Self Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center (SARTAC) fellow
    Web: d3r5ngmnz0b984.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Advice-For-Someone-With-A-Disability-Who-Wants-to-Come-Out-Or-Explore-Their-Sexuality.pdf
  • What the Words Mean – A Basic List of LGBTQ Words
    This is a list of words related to being LGBTQ+ and what each of the words mean
    Source: Thomas Caswell, Self Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center (SARTAC) fellow
    Web: d3r5ngmnz0b984.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/What-the-Words-Mean-A-Basic-List-of-LGBTQ-Words-1.pdf
  • LGBTQ+ Disability Annotated Bibliography
    This is a big list of resources that Green Mountain Self Advocates put together. Green Mountain Self Advocates is a self-advocacy group in Vermont. Each resource has a paragraph in plain language explaining what the resource is about.
    Source: Green Mountain Self Advocates
    Web: d3r5ngmnz0b984.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Annotated-Bibliography-A-list-of-Resources-on-Disability-and-LGBTQ-Followed-by-a-Short-Description.pdf

Sex and Relationships

  • Marriage and Relationships
    SARTAC is a group that helps out self-advocacy groups. SARTAC puts different resources on their website. This is a page with all of SARTAC’s resources on marriage and relationships.
    Source: Self Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center (SARTAC)
    Web: selfadvocacyinfo.org/resources-about/marriage-and-relationships/
  • Sexuality
    SARTAC is a group that helps out self-advocacy groups. SARTAC puts different resources on their website. This is a page with all of SARTAC’s resources on sexuality.
    Source: Self Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center (SARTAC)
    Web: selfadvocacyinfo.org/resources-about/sexuality/
  • Sex Talk for Self-Advocates Webinar #6: LGBTQ+ Relationships
    This is a video of a panel on LGBTQ+ relationships. A panel is when people who know a lot about a certain topic get together to talk about it. The panel is part of a series of videos. The series is about sex and sexuality for self-advocates
    Source: Self Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center (SARTAC)
    Web: selfadvocacyinfo.org/resource/sex-talk-for-self-advocates-webinar-6-lgbtq-relationships/
  • Sex Ed for People with IDD Plain Language Edition
    The NCIL is a group that advocates for people with disabilities. It is a sex education resource for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It talks about things like puberty, gender and sexuality, masturbation, dating and relationships, and having sex.
    Source: National Council on Independent Living (NCIL)
    Web: d3r5ngmnz0b984.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/9-30-19-NCIL-Sex-Ed-Easy-Read-Discussion-Guide-.pdf
  • Healthy Relationships & Sexuality
    Speak Up Speak Out is a conference for self-advocates. This presentation talks about healthy relationships and sexuality for people with disabilities. It talks about things like gender and sexuality, what a healthy relationship looks like, and what consent is. It has lots of resources in it that you can look up for more information.
    Source: Speak Up Speak Out – Adam Wiser & Tara Ahern
    Web: thearcofil.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/SUSO-2021-Healthy-Relationships-Sexuality.pdf
  • A Peer to Peer Guide About Domestic and Sexual Violence
    This is a guide for self-advocates about recognizing and stopping abuse. It is written in plain language. It contains different examples of situations with abuse and how to stop them. Note 1: this guide contains a brief mention of the R-word. Note 2: This guide was written mostly for people in the state of Vermont. The resources in it might not be helpful for people in other states.
    Source: Green Mountain Self Advocates
    Web: selfadvocacyinfo.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/GMSA-A-Peer-to-Peer-Guide-About-DV-and-SV.pdf
  • Autism and Safety Toolkit: Safety Tips for Self-Advocates
    This is a guide for self-advocates about safety, recognizing and stopping abuse, making safety plans, and advocating for alternatives to police. It is written in plain language.
    Source: Autistic Self Advocacy Network
    Web: autisticadvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Autism-and-Safety-Pt-2.pdf
  • Healthy Relationship Workbook
    This is a workbook that talks about types of relationships, relationship safety, consent, and other topics. It is written in plain language.
    Source: The Arc of Spokane
    Web: arcwhatcom.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Healthy-Relationship-Workbook.pdf
  • Self-Advocates Speak Up About Sex
    This is a resource based on a focus group Green Mountain Self Advocates held with self-advocates about sex and sexuality. It talks about what the self-advocates in the focus group said. The group talked about things like how they learned about sex, what they heard about sex while growing up, and what they wish they had learned about sex.
    Source: Elevatus Training
    Web: elevatustraining.com/selfadvocates/
  • Real Talk
    Real Talk is a website that has lots of resources about sex education for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The organization that runs Real Talk sometimes hosts online chats that anyone can attend to ask questions. They also have lots of videos about different sex education topics. Note: Real Talk is run by an organization in Canada. Some of their resources may not be available in the United States.
    Source: Real Talk
    Web: real-talk.org

Know Your Rights

  • Sexual Rights Statement
    This document tells you what your rights around sex, sexuality, and relationships. It tells you about your rights in both formal and plain language.
    Source: Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission (IGAC)
    Web: www2.illinois.gov/sites/gac/Documents/Sexual%20Rights%20Easier%20to%20Read.pdf
  • Tips and advice (life hacks!) for autistic trans people about finding and going to doctors
    This is a guide about finding and going to doctors for autistic trans people. It was written by Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network and the National LGBTQ Task Force. The AWN Network advocates for the rights of autistic women and non-binary people. The National LGBTQ Task Force advocates for the rights of all LGBTQ+ people. The guide is written in plain language. It explains things like how to find a doctor, how to tell a doctor you are trans or autistic, how to ask for accommodations, and what to do in case of medical emergencies.
    Source: Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network (AWN) and the National LGBTQ Task Force
    Web: awnnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Final-Version-Before-You-Go-Know-Your-Rights-Booklet.pdf

Resources for Support People

  • How to Support LGBTQ+ People with I/DD to Come Out
    This resource is meant more for support people, but anyone can read it. It talks about what LGBTQ+ people with intellectual and developmental disabilities want their support people to know. Elevatus training is a group that teaches people how to teach sex education to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
    Source: Green Mountain Self Advocates & Elevatus Training
    Web: elevatustraining.com/how-to-support
  • Supporting LGBTQ+ People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
    This article is by Pauline Bosma, a trans woman with an intellectual disability. Pauline talks about her own life and also how to help LGBTQ+ people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to come out. There is also a handout that is more for support people, but anyone can read the article or handout. Note: this article contains a brief mention of the R-word.
    Source: Pauline Bosma – Elevatus Training
    Web: elevatustraining.com/supporting-lgbtq/

Accessibility

  • One Idea Per Line: A Guide to Making Easy Read Resources
    Source: Autistic Self Advocacy Network
    Web: autisticadvocacy.org/resources/accessibility/easyread/
  • Holding Inclusive Events: A Guide to Accessible Event Planning
    This resource has the instructions to set up accessible events and conferences. “Accessible” means people can fully participate in conferences. Accessible event planning includes four steps. These four steps are universal design, physical accessibility, sensory accessibility, and cognitive accessibility.
    Source: Autistic Self Advocacy Network
    Web: autisticadvocacy.org/resources/accessibility/#holding-inclusive-events-a-guide-to-accessible-event-planning

Self-Advocacy

  • You Get Proud By Practicing
    A poem about self advocacy. It talks about pride.
    Source: Laura Hershey
    Web: thenthdegree.com/proudpoem.asp
  • Civic Engagement Toolkit for Self Advocates
    This is a page with all of ASAN’s resources on civic engagement. Civic engagement means actively participating in our democracy.
    Source: Autistic Self Advocacy Network
    Web: autisticadvocacy.org/policy/toolkits/civic/
  • A Self Advocate’s Guide to the Americans With Disabilities Act
    This is a resource about the Americans with Disabilities Act for self-advocates in plain language and Easy Read. The Americans with Disabilities Act is also called the ADA.
    Source: Autistic Self Advocacy Network
    Web: autisticadvocacy.org/policy/toolkits/ada/

Community Living

  • ASAN: Community Living Summit Resource
    In 2018, ASAN held a meeting to about community living. At the meeting, autistic people talked about what living in the community means to us, and how we can help more people live in the community. After, ASAN put together many different resources based on what the participants talked about. This page has all of these resources.
    Source: Autistic Self Advocacy Network
    Web: autisticadvocacy.org/policy/briefs/community/
  • Crisis In Our Communities: Racial Disparities in Community Living
    This is a resource about barriers to community living for people of color. These barriers are caused by racism. Racism affects policies about dealing with emergencies, police violence, housing, and more. This toolkit explains how policy choices, now and in the past, keep disabled people of color from accessing community living.
    Source: Autistic Self Advocacy Network
    Web: autisticadvocacy.org/policy/toolkits/disparities/
  • What is Police Violence?: A plain language booklet about anti-Black racism, police violence, and what you can do to stop it
    This is a resource about police violence in plain language. This booklet talks about anti-Black racism and the police, police violence in the U.S., police violence and disability, and what we can do about police violence.
    Source: Autistic Self Advocacy Network & Green Mountain Self Advocates
    Web: autisticadvocacy.org/policy/toolkits/police/

Supported Decision Making

  • The Right to Make Choices: International Laws and Decision-Making by People with Disabilities
    This resource helps people with disabilities understand decision-making laws. You will learn about different kinds of support you can use to make choices. You will also learn about how people in different countries have changed their laws to help people with disabilities make our own choices. Freedom to make our own choices is a human right.
    Source: Autistic Self Advocacy Network
    Web: autisticadvocacy.org/policy/toolkits/choices/

Formal Language

Toolkits and Resources on LGBTQ+ Community and Identity

  • Movement Advancement Project (MAP) — shows your legal rights as an LGBTQ+ person in different states
    This website has lots of different maps on it. It shows you what your legal rights are as an LGBTQ+ person in different states and territories in the United States. Remember, there are some rights that you have no matter where you live in the United States. There are also other rights that depend on which state or territory you live in. The maps are not written in plain language.
    Source: Movement Advancement Project (MAP)
    Web: www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps
  • LGBTQ Glossary
    This is a longer list of words related to being LGBTQ+ and what they mean. It is not written in plain language, but it has more words than Thomas Caswell’s list.
    Source: LGBTQ Commission
    Web:     lgbtq.smcgov.org/lgbtq-glossary
  • Coming Out as You! (Trevor Project)
    The Trevor Project is a group that helps LGBTQ+ young people. This guide can be used by LGBTQ+ people of all ages. This guide helps you make a plan for coming out to other people.
    Source: The Trevor Project
    Web: issuu.com/trevorproject/docs/coay_v07
  • COMING OUT: A Handbook for LGBTQ Young People (Trevor Project)
    This is another guide by the Trevor Project. This guide can help if you are confused about your gender or sexuality. It can also help you with coming out and telling other people.
    Source: The Trevor Project
    Web: www.thetrevorproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Coming-Out-Handbook.pdf

In the news

  • Joint Statement on the Rights of Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Autistic People
    This is a guide about what rights transgender and gender non-conforming autistic people have. It is written by ASAN, the National Center for Transgender Equality, and the National LGBTQ Task Force. The National Center for Transgender Equality is a group that advocates for the rights of all transgender people. This guide is not written in plain language. It is meant more for researchers and lawmakers.
    Source: ASAN, the National Center for Transgender Equality, and the National LGBTQ Task Force
    Web: autisticadvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/joint_statement_trans_autistic_GNC_people.pdf

Organizations and Groups

Hotlines.

These are different hotlines you can call as an LGBTQ+ person if you need help. Some of them are for all LGBTQ+ people. Some of them are only for LGBTQ+ people in a certain age group. The Trans Lifeline is only for transgender and non-binary people. Check the website of a hotline before you call.

Rainbow Support Groups for LGBTQ+ people with IDD

These are support groups that help LGBTQ+ people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. There are different Rainbow Support Groups in different states. You can find out if there is a Rainbow Support Group in your state by doing a web search for “rainbow support group [your state]”.

  • Twainbow (Support for LGBTQ+ autistic people)
    Twainbow is a group that supports LGBTQ+ autistic people.
    Web: www.twainbow.org
  • Prideability
    PrideAbility is a facebook group, whose mission it is to expand LGBTQIA Advocacy across New York State, for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD)
    Web: www.facebook.com/prideability
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grant number C00018GG, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, the Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201 through the New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (NYS DDPC).

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