Without appropriate education, the person may learn about relationships from what they see on television. Having a close relationship with another is often a strong desire for people. A person needs to know how to meet others and build friendships, to learn how to express care and respect for others so that they will have more opportunity to reach out to others. We want to ensure that he's safe, she's safe, they're safe, we're safe. People must be taught how to convey consent, how to communicate withdrawal of consent, and to know the steps to take should they feel their wishes are not respected.
Ongoing education is a major focus of front-line staff.
Disease prevention and birth control, along with assertiveness training and abuse prevention, continue to be part of the basic teaching package. Safety can also mean knowing whom you can approach, what the community and the law find intolerable, and the consequences for breaking the rules. Look at every possible scenario where safety may be compromised. This may mean knowing how to intervene should a situation of risk occur. Negotiate and teach the intervention steps to the person you're supporting.