Learning disabilities and autism toolkit
Consent – what it is and it is how to talk about it
Consent means that all people involved in any kind of sexual activity agree to take part by choice. They also need to have the freedom and capacity to make that choice. Those who support or work with people with learning disabilities and Autistic people often have concerns around consent and the mental capacity act.
Responding to disclosures
Rape and sexual violence are traumatic events that can have profound psychological, physical, and emotional impacts.
Autistic people and people with learning disabilities may have additional barriers that prevent them from being able to talk about what has happened to them.
Recognising signs of abuse
There are many reasons why someone might find it difficult to talk about an experience of sexual assault or abuse so it’s important to recognise some of the signs that someone may have been affected by sexual violence.