Brook' s position on young people with special needs
Brook is committed to ensuring that all young people have equal access to information and support. Respect for diversity is a core value for Brook.
People with special needs have the right to appropriate and relevant sex and relationships education. The sexual health needs of young people with special needs should be acknowledged and services should ensure that they are able to meet them.
Background information
There is a reluctance to acknowledge the sexuality of young people with special needs and their sexual health needs are often ignored as a result.
The Department for Education
However, young people with special needs are less likely to receive sex education at school or home.
They also face a higher than average likelihood of experiencing sexual abuse.
Young people with learning disabilities have the same right to consent to, or withhold consent to, treatment as others based on their ability to understand the decision. [2]
Brook produced one of the first comprehensive sex and social education programmes for people with learning disabilities in 1987.
Some Brook Centres provide outreach and education activities for young people with special needs.
