Sexuality and relationships

Friendships and relationships are an important part of everyone's life, including people with learning disabilities.

If you have a learning disability, or if you know someone who does, then Mencap can help you find the right advice and support about sexuality and relationships. 

We know this can sometimes be an awkward thing to talk about. 

But people with a learning disability have the same rights as anyone else to express their sexuality and have personal and sexual relationships if they want to.  

Easy read quick guides 

Friendships

• Making friends
• What to do if a friend upsets you
• What to do if your friends is jealous of another friend
• What to do when someone doesn't want to be friends with you
• What to do if you want to stop being friends

Relationships

• Online relationships
• Going on a date
• Ending a relationship
• Advice after a break up

Guides

• What is sexuality?
• What is gender?
• Being LGBTQIA+
• Menstruation
• Menopause
• Pronouns and their meanings

What is a relationship? Can people with a learning disability have a relationship?

Frequently asked questions 

People who get good relationship and sex education have a better sexual understanding, better sexual health, and are less at risk of being sexually abused.  

The Mencap website has an excellent FAQ section that helps provide answers to common questions. 

You can also contact their Learning Disability Helpline by calling 0808 808 1111.

Plymouth's Local Offer is organised into four main categories covering the following age ranges:

• Early years (0 to 5 years old)
• Primary (5 to 11 years old)
• Secondary (11 to 18 years old)
• Preparing for adulthood

 Plymouth Local Offer homepage

Is the information correct?

Let us know if the information on this page is wrong and needs to be updated.