Supporting people with intellectual disabilities to live their lives in the fullest sense includes supporting people to be sexual, have intimate relationships and express their sexuality and sexual identities. It has been four decades since Ann Craft's pioneering work on sexuality rights of people with intellectual disabilities began framing this understanding. She challenged the dominant myths and misconceptions that saw the sexual lives of people with intellectual disabilities overlooked, restricted or pathologised. Craft's work articulated a set of rights that had not been previously named for people with intellectual disabilities that included the right to be seen as an adult, to have relationships, to be safe from abuse, to learn about sexuality and to be able to live a self-determined sexual life that was not shaped by the views attitudes and decisions of others including staff. This ground-breaking work has endured through the Ann Craft Trust which continues to educate, advocate and do research to progress the sexuality rights of people with intellectual disabilities. This special issue is motivated by the need to continue to advocate for these rights to be realities in the lives of people with intellectual disabilities globally.