Easy Read or Accessible Resources

WWILD has created a number of easy read or accessible resources to assist carers or workers supporting people with intellectual or learning disabilities.

We have also listed some useful resources created by other organisations.

These resources should not be used by the person on their own, but may be used to help talk through issues and information.

WWILD’s Resources:

Supporting people who have experienced violence and abuse

What to do if someone hurts you – An Easy read page for people who have recently experienced violence or abuse.

What is Counselling? – This may help in talking with someone about what is involved in counselling and whether they may wish to try counselling. This page is WWILD-specific, but we would suggest other organisations create their own Easy English ‘What is counselling?’ page.

WWILD’s Support for Victims – Information about WWILD’s victims of crime support work. We provide information, case management, and referral to victims of crime who have an intellectual disability.

You Deserve To Be Safe: An Easyread Booklet about Sexual Assault

WWILD developed an easy read booklet to support Queenslanders to understand what is sexual violence, how it might make you feel, and what are your safety options, with support from the 2019 Queensland Government Sexual Violence Prevention Grants program.

This booklet was developed with the support of WWILD women and a colleagues from the Queensland Sexual Assault Sector.

Please click on the link to download a copy or if you would like hard copies of the booklet for your organisation (we have a limited number to distribute), or have any questions, please contact WWILD at info@wwild.org.au.

This booklet and contents was developed and published by WWILD SVP ASSOCIATION INC.© 2019 All Rights Reserved. Please click on the link to download a copy of the booklet. WWILD_You deserve to be safe_web [accessible]

You Deserve to be Safe: A Easyread booklet about Domestic and Family Violence

WWILD developed an easyread booklet and accompanying poster, about violence in relationships and who you can talk to about safety, funded by Queensland Government’s 2017 Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month grants program.

This booklet was developed with the support of WWILD women and colleagues from the Domestic & Family Violence, Sexual Assault, Disability and Youth sectors.

If you would like hard copies of the booklet/poster for your organisation, please contact WWILD at info@wwild.org.au.

Please click on the link to download a copy here: You Deserve to be Safe

And You Think You’re the Expert Project – Podcast, Videos and a Booklet

WWILD Sexual Violence Prevention Association Inc. created the And You Think You’re the Expert? podcast as part of the Listen Up! Project.

For this project, we consulted with women who have an intellectual disability about what makes safe, accessible services for them, after an experience of violence, such as sexual assault and/or domestic and family violence.

We have created a 7-episode podcast and an accompanying booklet that discusses disability, violence and accessibility and is hosted by the experts!

Each episode, our experts interview a worker in this field; a sexual violence counsellor, a domestic violence worker, a support worker, a support coordinator, a mental health worker and a police officer.

Our experts offer their wisdom and advice to the workers.

There are also some accompanying videos.

To listen to the podcast episodes, watch the videos or see the booklet, please click on:

Home page – And you think you’re the expert (andyouthinkyouretheexpert.com.au)

‘How to report a sexual assault to Queensland police’ animated videos project

WWILD are currently working on a series of animated videos that help people with intellectual disabilities learn how to report sexual assault to the police. We want to assist people to understand their rights and options when talking to the police. There are many ways to seek help from police following a sexual assault and it can be a confusing process. We want to support people to have the right information in an easy to understand way to help make this decision easier.

We are collaborating with people with intellectual disabilities, people with lived experience of sexual violence, the police and legal professionals to create correct and helpful resources. We have received funding from the Queensland Government as part of their “Investing in Queensland Women” grants to create these videos.

These videos will be available to watch from August 2022 and will be available on our website and facebook page.

Sunny App

Sunny is 1800RESPECT’s app for women with disability. It can support you if you have experienced violence and abuse. Sunny can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play Store. Sunny is free to download and use on your phone.

Sunny is 1800RESPECT’s app for women with disability who have experienced violence and abuse. Sunny has been co-designed with women with disability to make sure it provides the very best support for the people who use it. WWILD participated in and supported the development of the app.

It can help you to:

Tell your story
Understand what has happened
Know your rights
Find people who can help
Understand what abuse is
Learn about different types of abuse

Other Organisation’s Resources:

Supporting people who have experienced violence and abuse

Queensland State Government’s Online Resource – Sexual Abuse and Sexual Assault Information

This website will help you or your family members learn about sexual violence, assault and abuse and the steps you can take if you think it’s happening to you or other people you know. Click on this LINK to go to website.

Queensland State Government’s Online Resource – Domestic and Family Violence Information and Support for Women with Disability

This Queensland government website will help you learn about domestic and family violence and the steps you can take if you think it’s happening to you. For further information click on this LINK

Sexual Assault – When Sex is Not OK – Resources from CASA (Centre Against Sexual Assault) Victoria. Topics include: what is sexual assault, important things to know about sexual assault, and how you may feel. Click HERE for List of their other resources.

What to do if someone hurts you or does bad things to you – Developed by Human Rights Watch in collaboration with disabled persons’ organisations (DPOs) and gender-based violence service providers, this resource shows how to recognise, prevent, and protect against gender-based violence, including by distinguishing between “good” and “bad” touch, and explains how to seek legal, medical, and psycho social support.

Women with Disabilities Victoria have created a series of videos and printed resources to improve our understanding of women with disabilities and their experiences of violence and abuse. These resources have been developed for people with disabilities and also the support workers and other health professionals that support them. Please go to this LINK to access these resources.

Disability Advocacy Network Australia – This page has a collection of resources that promote safety from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation through teaching people about rights, responsibilities, relationships and where people can seek help from throughout Australia. Resources – violence and abuse | Disability Advocacy Network Australia (dana.org.au)

Sexual Assault Resource Centre (SARC) based in Perth, Western Australia and they have created this video to give advice on self care and coping strategies. It was targeted to a mainstream audience but may be helpful for some people. Sexual Assault Resource Centre: Coping Skills – YouTube Also click on this link to see some other resources. King Edward Memorial Hospital – Sexual Assault Resource Centre (SARC) (health.wa.gov.au)

Supporting people with online safety

The E-Safety Commission sees that many people living with disability have safe, enjoyable and positive online experiences most of the time. People with disability may also experience higher levels of online abuse. The E-Safety Commissioner wants to support people with disability to manage any online problems they may have and has made some Easy read books to help people learn about about Online Image based abuse and Abuse through Technology

They have a website you can look at and learn more about things you can do to get some help. Click on E-Safety Commission to find out more.

You can also click on the Links below at some Research news and newly developed Resources for people with disabilities to use to understand E-safety. WWILD assisted with this research project that helped develop the resources.

Kids Helpline also have a number of E-Safety resources available across its website.

Supporting people to be safe within relationships

What is a Healthy Relationship

An Easy read guide developed by the Queensland government. For further information click on this LINK

I have the right to be safe

A self protection education program produced by TRUE Relationships and Reproductive Health.

Safe Relationships, Safer Sex

Some of us have or want a partner, a girlfriend or a boyfriend. Some of us have or want a sexual relationship.You can keep safe and happy in a sexual relationship. This brochure covers topics such as safe sex practices, consent and what constitutes a sexual relationship.

More resources are available on the TRUE Relationships and Reproductive Health website.

Your rights, Life choices, Lead and take part, Sex and your body, Safety and violence

Women with Disabilities Australia (WWDA) have developed online easy read resources for women and girls with disability. Each of the topics talked about above are a separate page that open up into easy read accessible resources for women with disabilities. Please go to this link to find it. https://oursite-easyread.wwda.org.au/

Sexuality, Relationships and Your Rights

SECCA in Western Australia have created a cross-jurisdictional rights based resource in PDF form about people’s rights to sexuality, relationships and the law – it’s quite comprehensive and covers a range of different topics in Easy English. It is based on Western Australian legal requirements as well. Go to the link below to look it up:

https://secca.org.au/sites/default/files/SECCA%20Sexuality%20Your%20Rights%20Web.pdf

Kids Helpline also have a range of resources for kids and young people up to age 25 across a range of topics around safe relationships.

The SECCA App

This web based interactive App supports the development of knowledge and skills in navigating sexuality and relationships concepts across the lifespan. It involves a bunch of games and educational modules around foundational concepts of emotions, puberty, menstruation, masturbation and public & private, as well as lessons that get a bit more involved with each concept. Looks like it has been adapted from the PDF resource above. Again it is based on what happens in Western Australia. Click on link below to register. https://app.secca.org.au/about/

Family Planning Victoria – Reproductive and Sexual Health Easy English Factsheets

Family Planning Victoria has a range sexual and reproductive health factsheets available in Easy English format. Some of the information in these factsheets is based on what happens in Victoria, but they are still generally helpful. These are written in an easy to read way and use pictures to explain ideas. Click on the links below to download and print the factsheets.

Sexual Lives and Respectful Relationships

SL&RR (formerly Living Safer Sexual Lives: Respectful Relationships) is a program for people with intellectual disability that focuses on talking and learning about sexuality and relationship rights, sexual health, and violence and abuse prevention. It was developed in collaboration with people with intellectual disability and University researchers, and is delivered using a peer education model. Online Resources are available – click on this LINK

Support for parents with intellectual disabilities

The Bumpy Road – Easy English fact sheets for parents with intellectual difficulties dealing with the child protection system. It is advice from parents with experience. Developed by The Wash House and is © Copyright The WASH House Inc.

For more information email: info@bumpyroad.org.au. It is not legal advice and it is based on families in New South Wales only. Has some useful pages that would assist parents even though some of the legal requirements may be different in Queensland.

Supporting Young Mums to Know Their Legal Rights, a Video, has been developed by Women’s Legal Service Queensland and Micah Projects’ Caboolture Young Mothers for Young Women Group. The video is for individuals and organisations supporting young women by providing information and referrals relevant to young mothers regarding their legal rights. In the video, the lawyer, Kaitlin listens to young mothers’ legal questions relevant to pregnancy and breastfeeding, in the birthing suite, and after the baby’s born, domestic and family violence, and providing information and referrals.

The video is available to view here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVCONU1CjlM

There is also booklet that goes with it which is also available to view here: https://wlsq.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/2020.04.16-teenmumsbooklet_web-FINAL.pdf

If you have any questions about these resources please contact Women’s Legal service on ph-1800957957

Research Centre for Children and Families – University of Sydney

For more information Click HERE

Their Supporting the Woman, Supporting the Mother project has developed resources for parents with intellectual disability including:

A tip sheet for parents about getting the right support and using the NDIS
Videos of parents with intellectual disability sharing their experience of parenting and services.
Information about advocacy and support.

Click HERE to look at the tip sheet or videos.

Copyright Disclaimer

Some resources are freely available and some have a cost, but please contact WWILD if you are interested in PDF versions or hard copies of our resources.