Real Talk
Challenge
People with developmental and intellectual disabilities often don’t receive the same opportunities to learn about sexuality and relationships as their neurotypical peers. They may be excluded from sex education entirely or wrongly assumed to be asexual or uninterested in romantic connection.
This lack of education and support can have serious consequences—including isolation, unfulfilling relationships, increased risk of abuse, difficulty recognizing unhealthy dynamics, and unsafe sexual behavior.
"Conversations between people with cognitive disabilities and their families or staff about dating, love, relationships and sex are often uncomfortable, taboo, or wholly absent. "
-John Woods, Real Talk Founder
project brief
Real Talk asked us to create a video series featuring honest, unscripted conversations between neurodiverse people about love, relationships, pleasure, and sex. These videos are used in events led by Real Talk’s team of certified sexual health educators, where people with disabilities come together to watch and discuss the topics. Each session is participant-driven, creating space for open dialogue in a safe, respectful environment.
After each event, we collaborate with the Real Talk team to identify recurring questions and themes. These insights help shape future videos, ensuring the content remains relevant and responsive to the community's needs.
All videos are available for free on YouTube and the Real Talk website. They’re also widely used by families and support workers as accessible tools for starting important conversations.
Discussion: Am I allowed to have sex in my home share, life share, or group home?
Discussion: What happened the first time you talked to each other about sex?
Discussion: Am I allowed to have sex in my home share, life share, or group home?
"The conversations in these videos are unscripted, so you’re watching people share genuinely from their real life context. Watching videos of people having these conversations makes it concrete rather than hypothetical, and it gives people a model to follow. "
-John Woods, Real Talk Founder
Sometimes we step outside the traditional conversation format to present information in fresh, creative ways. For example, we produced an educational video series on birth control, as well as a set of scripted fictional videos — featuring both actors and non-actors with disabilities — about how to access services at Options for Sexual Health clinics in British Columbia.
A Certified Sexual Health Educator explains: What is the contraceptive shot?
A Certified Sexual Health Educator explains: What is the contraceptive shot?
Fictional Scenario: What it's like to go to the Options for Sexual Health Clinic
impact & results
Real Talk participants consistently report feeling more confident in their identities, more informed about relationships and sexuality, and better equipped to pursue meaningful connections. Support staff and families have also noticed a shift—sharing how Real Talk has helped challenge outdated beliefs and foster more open, respectful conversations about sex and relationships within their communities.
To date, we’ve created over 50 videos with Real Talk. These have become vital tools—not just for participants, but also for educators, families, and support workers across the province—promoting inclusive, judgment-free education that meets people where they’re at.