Content warning: This article references sexual and domestic violence.
For Dale Ryan, the Love Rights project is addressing an important issue.
The program offers online educational resources and training that aims to reduce sexual violence for people with disability and provide information on how to enjoy intimacy and connection in a safe, respectful and understanding environment.
Created by not-for-profit organisation Northcott Disability Services and funded by the NSW government, the Love Rights project covers topics including early warning signs of abusive relationships, consent, responding to sexualised behaviours, human rights and sexuality.
"It feels really good to have a voice that's actually being heard and we can actually get something done — to prevent sexual violence in disability and in relationships," Ryan told SBS News.
"I think it's important because we are equal to everybody else, we deserve to have the same rights as everybody else."
The program's operator says 84 per cent of participants indicated they felt more confident expressing relationship needs after using the program.
Bridging the knowledge gap
Liz Forsyth, chief executive at Northcott Disability Services, told SBS News that people with disability face a greater risk of experiencing sexual violence.
"[They] often don't have access to education resources and support to understand what consent is, what safe sexual relationships and intimate connections with people are, and how they might go about protecting themselves and living full lives," she said.
According to a 2021 Disability Royal Commission report, more than 60 per cent of Australians with disability had experienced physical, social, intimate partner violence or emotional abuse.
Patrick Rory-John is a psychotherapist and counsellor with Northcott Disability Services who was involved with creating the Love Rights project.
Patrick Rory-John (left) says education plays a "pivotal role" in preventing sexual violence. Source: SBS News
"You can't prevent what you can't name. And so education plays a pivotal role," they said.
"If you don't know about sex, relationships, consent and abuse, how do you know when those boundaries have been crossed?"
Rory-John also said removing barriers for people with disability was a crucial part of starting open and inclusive conversations.
"When it comes to conversations with people with disability, it's not necessarily about asking 'are you safe?' and surveilling their safety, because that acts as a barrier," Roy-John said.
"It's actually asking, do you feel heard? Do you feel like your autonomy is being respected? Do you feel empowered to make these decisions on your own?
"These sexual conversations, a lot of people don't know how to have, but let's just start having them."
If you or someone you know is impacted by family and domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732, or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
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