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Rights, sexuality and relationships in Ireland: 'It'd be nice to be kind of trusted'
- Authors:
- KELLY Grace, CROWLEY Helen, HAMILTON Carol
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 37(4), December 2009, pp.308-315.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Little formal research has been undertaken in Ireland, where it is currently illegal to have a sexual relationship with a person who cannot live without support, into what people with intellectual disabilities think about issues surrounding sexuality and what they would like to see happen in this area of their lives. This paper presents a preliminary analysis of research into the views and experiences of a 15 Irish people, aged between 23 and 41, with intellectual disabilities in the area of sexuality and relationships. Initial findings from a series of 1 hour discussion groups suggest that people with intellectual disabilities are getting insufficient sex education and that changes are needed at a disabilities service level to enable people with intellectual disabilities to express their sexuality in an open and supportive climate. At a government level, changes would need to be made to Irish legislation concerning the sexuality of vulnerable adults so that Ireland can meet its obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006). The authors argue that people with intellectual disabilities' views must come first in all debates concerning their sexuality.
'A Right to Know'. Facilitating a relationship and sexuality programme for adults with intellectual disabilities in Donegal
- Authors:
- GARDINER Tina, BRADDON Eileen
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 37(4), December 2009, pp.327-329.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This paper outlines the experiences of facilitators of a relationship and sexuality education pilot programme with adults with intellectual disabilities at 2 training centres in North West Ireland. Describing the context and development of the programme taking place in socially isolated communities, where religion still holds a large influence, this paper outlines the challenges faced, and the feedback it received. The programme, where each session lasted about 2.5 hours, addressed the problems intellectually disabled people faced when discussing sexuality, allowing them to talk to care workers even though it was a difficult and embarrassing subject. The programme also gave parents and carers training to support people with intellectual disabilities, and to inform them of the rights of those with disabilities. Feedback from both groups was positive.
Sexuality and personal relationships for people with an intellectual disability. Part I: service-user perspectives
- Authors:
- HEALY E., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 53(11), November 2009, pp.905-912.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Despite philosophical shifts towards person centred care and the consequent recognition of sexual autonomy for people with an intellectual disability (ID), there continue to be social and cultural barriers to sexual expression. This first part of a two-part study assessed the sexual knowledge, experiences and aspirations of service users. It also looked at their perceptions of impediments to achieving sexual autonomy. Thirty-two participants (20 male, 12 female) attending an ID service in Ireland participated in focus groups delineated by gender and banded by age group (13–17 years; 18–30 years; 31+ years). Service users, especially those over the age of 18 years, seemed to have an understanding of their sexual rights and identified some social and cultural barriers that they felt prevent them from achieving sexual autonomy. Most wanted a relationship. Those under 18 years had only rudimentary knowledge of sexuality issues, for example pregnancy, but had similar friendship and marriage aspirations to the older group. Family and staff attitudes appeared to be very influential in the views of respondents. All service users had received some form of sex education, although the benefits seemed greatest for those over 18 years. The authors stress the importance of sex education training and promotion of positive attitudes among staff carers and families towards appropriate sexual expression.
Sexuality and personal relationships for people with an intellectual disability. Part II: staff and family carer perspectives
- Authors:
- EVANS D. S., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 53(11), November 2009, pp.913-921.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
There appears to be little evidence that current service provision is matching recent ideological shifts that encourage appropriate sexual expression for people with an intellectual disability (ID). This second of a two part study used a questionnaire to assess the attitudes of staff and family carers. Case scenarios were presented to parents or siblings (n = 155) and staff carers (n = 153) of people with an ID in the west of Ireland; most were female. Staff carers tended to be more open to discussing sexuality and relationships with service users compared to family carers. They also suggested more environmental (e.g. insufficient training) than service-user characteristics (e.g. low cognitive ability) as impediments to these discussions. There were significant attitudinal differences between staff and family carers and between younger and older carers. Staff carers were more likely to support service-user engagement in intimate and non-intimate relationships whereas the majority of family carers (80%) showed a preference for low levels of intimacy. Overall the attitudes of staff carers more closely matched those promoted by ideological developments but differences in attitudes between carer groups could lead to inconsistent approaches to the management of sexuality. The authors conclude that there is continued need to provide staff and family carers with opportunities for dialogue and an ongoing need for training in the area of sexuality.