Disability provider Northcott has released free online training and educational resources targeting early intervention to address the early signs of sexual violence towards people with a disability.
The Love Rights project is designed to help people with disability and their support networks communicate, educate, and address sexuality education in a safe way.
Funded by the NSW government, the project started as an education and empowerment initiative for Northcott staff, which has evolved into free, accessible information now available online for the wider community.
As well as raising awareness, the resources are also about starting conversations, challenging harmful behaviours and empowering people to take action early. According to Northcott, people with disability are at a higher risk of experiencing sexual violence and too often their voices go unheard, and harmful attitudes go unchallenged. The Love Rights project was developed to change that.
Over the past year, people with disability, their families and carers, disability support staff and community partners came together with one goal: to build safer spaces where everyone’s rights are recognised and protected, to help shape practical tools and powerful stories that shine a light on the issue and offer hope for change.
Two short films have also been created to be used in conjunction with the Love Rights educational resource. Both films employed people with disabilities as crew and cast, while 84% of participants reported feeling more confident in expressing their relationship needs after accessing the Love Rights guide.
The Love Rights project is available via https://northcott.com.au/our-community/love-rights/