What is NYLN?
A youth-led, youth-run national
organization that serves as a
voice for and network of young
leaders with disabilities.
Our members are youth and
young adults with disabilities
(age 16-28) and allies (siblings,
friends, parents, teachers, etc.).
You can register to be an NYLN
member at www.nyln.org. As a
member you will get great info
and be connected to other
young leaders and allies around
the country.
IMAGE: Picture of the NYLN logo.
It has a hand imprint on it, and it
reads: National Youth Leadership
Network.
Talking About Relationships
Youth with disabilities can have a hard
time finding information about things
like relationships, dating, and sex.
IMAGE: Two people
drinking sodas together.
People with disabilities can date and
have relationships. It’s important to us,
just like non-disabled people.
Not having these conversations can be
dangerous. We need to be informed.
Dating
Dating is a time when we can
learn a lot about ourselves. We
can learn what we act like with
other people, what we love to
do, what we hate, what we
need, and who we like to be
with.
IMAGE: A woman painting
a picture and holding the
paint brush in her mouth.
Deciding Who To Date
IMAGE: Three friends hanging out.
• A good way to find someone to date is by doing things you
enjoy and meeting people who enjoy the same things. If
you like to go to church, it may be a good place to meet
people. If you like to paint, a good place to meet people
might be an art club.
• Some people try to meet others using the Internet. There
are websites for people without disabilities like
match.com or eharmony.com. There are also websites
specifically for people with disabilities like
dating4disabled.com and specialsinglesonline.com.
Choose what works for you, but be careful to make sure
that people you meet online are who they say they are and
are not leading you on. Meet them only in safe places.
Take a friend.
Disclosing Disability
“Disclosing” means telling someone
you have a disability.
It is a very personal decision.
Some people wait until they know
someone well, others tell right away.
IMAGE: Two people playing
basketball. One person is a
wheelchair user.
If you tell someone about your
disability, allow them time to think
about it and ask questions.
IMAGE: A man and a
woman lying on a
hammock together.
Having a Relationship
Having a relationship can mean a lot of different things:
Friend: Someone you know casually; someone to whom
you don’t have a physical or sexual attraction
Boyfriend or Girlfriend: Someone that you are attracted
to and he/she is attracted to you as well; someone you
would go on dates with and probably share intimacy with
Partner: Someone that you are in a more serious
relationship with; this usually involves sex
Terms for Sexual Identity
Heterosexual: A person who only likes someone of the
opposite gender
Homosexual: Person who is gay or lesbian
Gay: Men who like, and are attracted to, other men
Lesbian: Women like, and are attracted to, other women
Bisexual/Pansexual: People who like people of all genders
Transgender: A person who identifies as having a gender that
is different from the physical body they were born with
GLBTQ: A reference for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender,
and Queer
Queer: A word to describe people who identify with the
GLTBQ community
IMAGE: Two
women holding
each other.
Coming Out
If you think you might
be lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender,
IMAGE: A rainbow flag. This is a symbol
or queer try and find a
of the GLBTQ community.
safe space and
someone you can talk
to.
Remember that there is no one right way to go about
“coming out.” Everyone does it differently and that’s
OK. Do what feels right at a pace that makes it feel
comfortable.
Intimate Relationship
Activities: Dating Safely
Sex is when people use their bodies together to
share love and pleasure. If you and your
partner are not ready for sexual intercourse
there are other low risk activities you can
engage in:
Cuddling: sometimes this is done in public
Kissing: sometimes this is done in public, but
usually in private
IMAGE: Two people kissing.
Masturbating [a person touching themselves
or their partner to have pleasure]: this is only
done in private
Having Sex
When you are attracted to someone, the desire to
have sex might come unexpectedly. Think ahead.
Talk to your partner ahead of time about whether
or not you want to have sex.
Make sure you educate yourself about safe sex
practices.
Talk to your partner ahead of time about using
protection so you don’t get sexually transmitted
diseases (STDs) or don’t get pregnant.
If you’re going to have sex, know about the risks.
Make wise decisions. Make sure both people are
comfortable.
Things To Be Aware Of
It doesn’t happen with all relationships, but sometimes
there is a risk of abuse or violence in relationships. The
abuse can be domestic, physical, sexual, emotional, or
financial.
People with disabilities can be targets of domestic
violence.
We must do what we can to be careful and safe.
If you’ve experienced abuse or violence, it is important
to find someone to talk to. Some good places are
women’s organizations, shelters, and sometimes the
police station. Speak up because the law is on your side.
For more information, or to
become a member, contact us:
National Youth Leadership
Network (NYLN)
www.nyln.org
1-866-480-6565