Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
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Helping people to express their sexuality
- Author:
- MELLAN Bryan
- Journal article citation:
- Community Living, 22(2), 2009, pp.24-25.
- Publisher:
- Hexagon Publishing
The CONSENT team was set up to as a short-term project to assess the HIV/AIDS prevention needs of people with learning disabilities. The project revealed the depth of people's problems in expressing their sexuality needs and gave the team a wider role. Ways in which staff and carers can support people with learning disabilities in the areas of sex and relationships are suggested, the services provided by CONSENT are outlined.
Lonely hearts need a helping hand
- Authors:
- CARSON Iain, BLYTH Craig
- Journal article citation:
- Learning Disability Today, 10(2), April 2009, pp.18-21.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
A research study into the support people with learning disabilities need to develop and sustain friendships and personal relationships is described. Data was collected via group and individual interviews with 58 men who identified as having learning disabilities. The findings are summarised under the headings of: developing and sustaining friendships; sex and romantic relationships; and support. Recommendations for action are provided.
Talking about sex and relationships: the views of young people with learning disabilities
- Author:
- CHANGE
- Publisher:
- Change
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 144p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Leeds
This easy reading and illustrated accessible report from CHANGE (a leading national equal rights organisation led by disabled people) is based on research carried out by a team including researchers with learning disabilities and using a range of techniques including drama work with young people with learning disabilities. The report recommends more and better sex education, tailored for those with learning disabilities, better training and more support for professionals and more involvement of parents. Key findings suggest there needs to be more accessible sexual health information for young people with learning disabilities and for their parents, and this needs to include information about sexuality, abuse, and practical information about safer sex. There needs to be better training for teachers and sexual health professionals about delivering sex education or sexual health information to people with learning disabilities. Negative attitudes towards people with learning disabilities around sex and relationships need to be challenged by awareness-raising and education.
The significance of neighbours; views and experiences of people with intellectual disability on neighbouring
- Authors:
- van ALPHEN L.M., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 53(8), August 2009, pp.745-757.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
People with intellectual disability (ID) who live in regular neighbourhoods have experiences with their neighbours, which are important to understand when studying social integration. This study describes and analyses the opinions on, and experiences with, neighbour relationships of 39 people with ID living in neighbourhood housing facilities in the Netherlands. While the views of people with ID on 'good neighbouring' were consistent with 'neighbouring' described in sociological literature, their experiences may be influenced by an organisational context, the tendency to formalise relationships and apprehension towards meeting unfamiliar people. Understanding influential factors to neighbouring for people with ID may shed light on the processes involved in social integration of people with ID at a neighbourhood level. This paper contributes to understanding the opinions of people with ID on satisfactory neighbourhood relationships, and explores opportunities to improve them.
Part of the community
- Author:
- STEVENS Simon
- Journal article citation:
- Learning Disability Today, 9(4), June 2009, pp.20-21.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
Second Life, the internet based virtual world, offers people with learning and physical disabilities a route to inclusion. This article describes the main features of Second Life and its advantages for disabled people. It is much easier for physically disabled people to get together virtually than it is in real life. For people with autistic spectrum disorders, Second Life may aid in the development of social skills. People can show emotions in a clear and deliberate way, making them easier to read and understand. Users have formed groups such as Wheelies, a virtual nightclub for people with physical disabilities, and the Autism Liberation Front. Safeguarding issues are a concern, as they are in real life. The author concludes that Second Life has the potential to bring further benefits for disabled people, such as virtual and real world learning and paid employment opportunities.
Social support and intellectual disabilities: a comparison between social networks of adults with intellectual disability and those with physical disability
- Authors:
- LIPPOLD T., BURNS J.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 53(5), May 2009, pp.463-473.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Social support has been identified as a major protective factor in preventing mental health problems and also as a major contributor to quality of life. People with intellectual disabilities (ID) have been identified as having limited social support structures. Interventions have been focused on promoting their social presence and integration. However, previous studies have shown that this does not always lead to the formation of social relationships. To date few studies have looked at how having an ID leads to impoverished social networks. This study aimed to do this by contrasting the social relationships of people with physical disabilities (PD) and people with ID. Two groups of participants were recruited; 30 people with mild ID and 17 people with PD. Social and functional support networks were assessed, in addition to life experiences. Between and within group differences were then explored statistically. Adults with ID had more restricted social networks than PD, despite being involved in more activities. Social support for adults with ID was mainly provided by family and carers and few relationships with non-disabled people were identified. In contrast adults with PD had larger social networks than had been reported in the mainstream literature and had a balance of relationships with disabled and non-disabled people. The results suggest that there are additional processes attached to having an ID, which lead to continued impoverished lifestyles. The findings also endorse other work that suggests being physically integrated and engaged in a wide range of activities does not guarantee good social and emotional support.
The treatment of sex offenders with developmental disabilities: a practice workbook
- Author:
- LINDSAY William R.
- Publisher:
- Wiley-Blackwell
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 343p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Chichester
This book presents a comprehensive approach to the assessment and treatment of sex offenders with developmental disabilities. It is divided into three sections: background, theory and research; treatment considerations; treatments. It features practical advice on how to develop group dynamics and encourage participant ownership, guidance on setting up role plays and coverage of new initiatives such as self-regulation and Good Lives Model (GLM) as well as cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT). Contents include: risk assessment; treatment of inappropriate sexual behaviour; theories of offending and intellectual disability; promoting motivation; offence disclosure and accounts; allocating offenders to pathways; cognitive distortions and attitudes; personal physical and sexual abuse; victim awareness and empathy; pornography and sexual fantasy; attachments and relationships; lifestyle change and preventing relapse; evaluation.
'May we please have sex tonight?'– people with learning difficulties pursuing privacy in residential group settings
- Author:
- HOLLOMOTZ Andrea
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 37(2), June 2009, pp.91-97.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Many residential group settings for people with learning difficulties do not provide individuals with the private space in which they can explore their sexual relationships in a safe and dignified manner. Lack of agreed private spaces seriously infringes the individual's human rights. Many people with learning difficulties who lack privacy have no other option but to escape to isolated public or semi-private spaces to be sexually active. This places individuals at risk. It is suggested that self-advocacy driven policy guidance must be developed which must require residential services to review their practice to ensure that they accommodate residents' need for privacy, whilst supporting them to lead safe sexual relationships.
I get by, with a little help...
- Authors:
- KELLY Doreen, WARDROP Laura
- Journal article citation:
- Learning Disability Today, 9(4), June 2009, pp.16-18.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
This article is about adults with learning disabilities and their interpersonal relationships. It focuses on Partners for Inclusion, a not-for-profit organisation that provides supported living services to adults with learning disabilities and mental health problems in Scotland. Key to Partners for Inclusion's work is supporting people to make friends and get connected in their community. There has been some debate about the question of whether a person's support worker is a friend and if the support worker should be a friend. Issues relating to protection of vulnerable adults are discussed and it is noted that this has led to the creation of policy and rules regimenting the making of friends. The authors argue that is it acceptable for staff to be friends with the people that they support, as long as they are not the only friends.
The project: sex and relationships
- Author:
- GARBUTT Ruth
- Journal article citation:
- Learning Disability Today, 9(4), June 2009, pp.30-32.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
This article reports on a project to improve sex and relationship education for people with learning disabilities. The project was run by CHANGE, a national organisation that fights for the rights of people with learning disabilities, in association with Leeds University. Research tasks included: interviews with parents of young people with learning disabilities; focus groups with teachers and governors; a national survey of special schools; weekly drama sessions with young people over a two year period. Key findings were that there is a lack of accessible information for young people with learning disabilities. Parents had not been provided with information to support them in tackling the issue. Schools and parents are not working well together on sex education. Teachers do not know where to get relevant resources and many lack confidence in the issue. The article concludes with a number of recommendations for young people, parents and professionals.