You Have the Right to Make Choices About Sex and Relationships

Dignity of Risk

You are an adult.

You have the right to make choices about your own life.

This includes choices about:

• Dating

• Sex

• Relationships

• Marriage

• Having kids

These choices are part of being an adult.

What does “dignity of risk” mean?

Dignity of risk means you have the right to make your own choices.

It also means you have the right to:

• Try new things

• Take chances

• Make mistakes

• Learn from mistakes

• Have a full life

A full life has happy times and hard times.

A full life can have love, fun, friendship, sadness, and learning.

Everyone has these experiences.

Wanting love and relationships is normal

Many adults with I/DD want the same things other adults want.

You may want:

• Friends

• Dates

• Love

• A partner

• Marriage

• A family

• Sex

• To understand your body

• To understand your identity

These wants are normal.

They are not bad.

They are not a problem.

They are part of being human.

You deserve information

You deserve clear information about:

• Healthy relationships

• Consent

• Saying yes

• Saying no

• Safe sex

• Privacy

• Your body

• Your identity

• How to ask for help

Consent means you get to choose what happens with your body.

You can say yes.

You can say no.

You can change your mind.

Other people must respect your answer. You must also respect their answer.

Support should help you, not control you

Sometimes family members, staff, or support people feel worried.

They may want to keep you safe.

Being safe is important.

But being safe does not mean someone else gets to control your life.

Good support sounds like this:

“This is your choice. I am here to help you.”

Good support:

• Helps you think through choices

• Gives you information

• Listens to you

• Respects you

If something goes wrong

Everyone makes mistakes sometimes.

If something goes wrong, you should not be yelled at or punished. You should be supported.

For example, maybe you had sex without a condom. A good support person could say:

“Thank you for telling me. Let’s talk about what to do next. We can talk about STI testing, birth control, or other ways to stay healthy. I will help you.”

You deserve help when you need it.

You deserve respect when you ask for help.

The main idea

You are an adult.

You have the right to:

• Make your own choices

• Learn about sex and relationships

• Have love and friendship

• Ask questions

• Get help when you need it

• Be treated with respect

Sex and relationships should not be hidden from you.

You deserve honest information.

You deserve support.

You deserve respect.

Your life belongs to you.