Your Body, Your Rights: Building Safe Relationships
Everyone deserves relationships that feel safe, respectful, and supportive. You can read this page on your own, or with someone you trust.
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are at higher risk of being hurt or abused in relationships. Many people with IDD do not get the support they need to stay safe. Sometimes, support workers also do not have the right tools or training to help.
Your Body, Your Rights: Building Safe Relationships helps people with IDD learn about safe relationships. It also helps staff and caregivers learn how to give the right kind of support.
Healthy Relationships and You
The Government of Ontario and community groups, like Willowbridge, are working together on this project so people of all abilities can:
• Make good relationship choices
• Communicate in healthy ways
• Know the signs of abuse
• Stay safe in relationships
• Get help if you are being hurt
Free and Easy-To-Use Learning Tools
This project will provide free learning tools across Ontario, including:
• A plain language book with pictures about healthy and unhealthy relationships.
• 10 short videos that help explain relationship safety.
• An online e-learning hub with information and activities to help you learn.
• Groups or workshops where you can learn with others.
These tools can be used by people with IDD, family members, caregivers, and staff.
Training for Service Providers
Your Body, Your Rights: Building Safe Relationships includes free training for service providers across Ontario. This training helps staff support people with IDD in their relationships. Workers will learn:
• How to talk about safety and relationships
• How to spot abuse
• How to give the right kind of help when someone shares that they have been hurt
• How to teach people with IDD about safe relationships
What’s coming up next?
Spring–Summer 2026
• Staff training begins
Fall 2026–Winter 2027
• Website and e-learning hub launch
• Learning tools are tested across Ontario
• Building Safe Relationships groups and workshops begin across Ontario
2027
• Building Safe Relationships workshops continue across Ontario
Sign Up to Learn More
Do you want to learn more about healthy and safe relationships? Willowbridge Community Services will be offering a free group where you can learn about:
• Healthy communication
• Dating and relationship safety
• Safe sex
• How to spot abuse
• What to do if you feel unsafe
Need help right now? These are places that can help you if you are being hurt: