Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
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Coming out of the shadows
- Author:
- BLYTH Craig
- Journal article citation:
- Learning Disability Today, 10(5), June 2010, pp.15-16.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
Research has shown that the way men with learning disabilities are supported to develop romantic and sexual relationships may be different for heterosexual and gay relationships. Some men experienced negative attitudes from staff and the assumption of heterosexuality was common. ‘Gay spaces’ such as Manchester’s Gay Village can play a crucial role in enabling gay people to develop a range of relationships, providing them with a sense of community and territory and the opportunity to develop positive gay identities validated by others. A four-year project explored the experiences of disabled gay men who had accessed or attempted to access this space. Four key findings arose: accessing the Village, for many this was part of the wider process of coming out and some support staff felt uncomfortable about visiting gay venues; attitudinal barriers from within the gay community itself; “the cult of the perfect body”, which some believe runs deep in the gay community; and alternative gay spaces. For some, their experiences of accessing the Village had led them to abandon it and seek out other, higher risk, locations, such as public toilets, to meet gay men. The author concludes that for some gay men with learning difficulties a lack of appropriate recognition and support is resulting in them placing themselves in extremely vulnerable situations simply in order to develop sexual or romantic relationships. He suggests these men have a right to receive high quality and appropriate support to pursue the relationships they choose.
The treatment of auto-erotic asphyxiation in a man with severe intellectual disabilities: the effectiveness of a behavioural and educational erogramme
- Authors:
- THOMPSON A.R., BEAIL N.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 15(1), 2002, pp.36-47.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The treatment of individuals with severe intellectual disabilities who engage in self-injurious sexual practices and are incapable of giving consent poses a significant challenge to health care services. Treatment options can be highly personal and intrusive, and potentially pose a risk of litigation. However, there is also a risk of being prosecuted for negligence if necessary treatment is not pursued. This paper discusses the treatment of an individual engaged in such a behaviour - auto-erotic asphyxiation. It describes how the legal aspects of the design and implementation of the treatment approach were handled. The treatment of individuals with severe intellectual disabilities who engage in self-injurious sexual practices and are incapable of giving consent poses a significant challenge to health care services. Treatment options can be highly personal and intrusive, and potentially pose a risk of litigation. However, there is also a risk of being prosecuted for negligence if necessary treatment is not pursued. This paper discusses the treatment of an individual engaged in such a behaviour - auto-erotic asphyxiation. It describes how the legal aspects of the design and implementation of the treatment approach were handled. The treatment of individuals with severe intellectual disabilities who engage in self-injurious sexual practices and are incapable of giving consent poses a significant challenge to health care services. Treatment options can be highly personal and intrusive, and potentially pose a risk of litigation. However, there is also a risk of being prosecuted for negligence if necessary treatment is not pursued. This paper discusses the treatment of an individual engaged in such a behaviour - auto-erotic asphyxiation. It describes how the legal aspects of the design and implementation of the treatment approach were handled. The treatment of individuals with severe intellectual disabilities who engage in self-injurious sexual practices and are incapable of giving consent poses a significant challenge to health care services. Treatment options can be highly personal and intrusive, and potentially pose a risk of litigation. However, there is also a risk of being prosecuted for negligence if necessary treatment is not pursued. This paper discusses the treatment of an individual engaged in such a behaviour - auto-erotic asphyxiation. It describes how the legal aspects of the design and implementation of the treatment approach were handled. The treatment approach involved a behavioural and psycho-educational programme. A single case study methodology was utilized in order to assess the effectiveness of the intervention. The intervention led to the learning of new adaptive behaviour. Auto-erotic asphyxiation ceased and the individual's masturbatory behaviour changed sufficiently to reduce the threat of mortality. Qualitatively, a significant reduction in the level of stress experienced by the individual's family was reported. It is concluded that behavioural and educational techniques may be effective in the management of such cases. Further research replicating such techniques with similar cases is required prior to the efficacy of this treatment becoming established.
Private lives?
- Author:
- GEORGE Mike
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 4.6.98, 1998, pp.30-31.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
Describes the problem posed for a manager of a residential unit for adults with learning difficulties, when one of the men living there has started a sexual relationship with another resident and his mother is very unhappy about it.
Taking care of myself: a healthy hygiene, puberty and personal curriculum for young people with autism
- Author:
- WROBEL Mary
- Publisher:
- Future Horizons
- Publication year:
- 2003
- Pagination:
- 250p.
- Place of publication:
- Arlington, TX
Using a combination of social scripts and easy-to-understand activities, this maanual provides accessible information on health, hygiene and personal safety issues for people with autism spectrum conditions or other developmental disabilities. Presented as seven distinct units, this new curriculum covers all aspects of day to day life paying particular attention to areas that may cause confusion or distress, including illness and visits to the doctors. The authors also offer advice on puberty, appropriate sexual behaviour and 'stranger danger', making this a comprehensive manual for children and adolescents from the age of five upwards.
Balancing act
- Author:
- HENDY Steven
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 23.5.02, 2002, pp.40-41.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
Service providers should support people with learning difficulties to develop meaningful interpersonal relationships, but robust and sensitive procedures are essential in order to balance rights with risks.
A personal touch: managing the risks of abuse during intimate and personal care
- Authors:
- CAMBRIDGE Paul, CARNABY Steve
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Adult Protection, 2(4), November 2000, pp.4-16.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This paper identifies considerations for managing the risks of abuse during intimate and personal care for people with learning disabilities and complex needs. Drawing on insights gleaned from research involving interviews with staff, policies and procedures in specialist day and residential services, and the development of a staff training resource, the paper identifies a framework for adult protection practice in this critical area of support.
Reconstructing the sexuality of men with learning disabilities: empirical evidence and theoretical interpretations of need
- Authors:
- CAMBRIDGE Paul, MELLAN Bryan
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 15(2), March 2000, pp.293-311.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Research and practice in sexuality and learning disability has directly and indirectly highlighted the pathological sexual behaviour of men with learning disabilities, particularly their abuse and exploitation of women with learning disabilities, and relatively high HIV risk sexual behaviour with men without learning disabilities. It is consequently argued that there has been a relative neglect of their wider sexuality and sexual needs. This paper reconstructs this wider agenda, drawing on empirical evidence and theoretical interpretations of need from research and sex education in support of the observations made. In identifying a range of key issues for sexuality work with men with learning disabilities and arguing that they require greater recognition and attention, the paper also provides pointers for informing such work and for responding more widely.
Level of knowledge and risk of contracting HIV/AIDS amongst young adults with mild/moderate intellectual disability
- Author:
- McGILLIVRAY Jane A.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 12(2), 1999, pp.113-126.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study explores the level of knowledge and risk of contracting HIV/AIDS amongst a sample of 60 adults with mild/moderate intellectual disability. In comparison to a sample of undergraduate students, they showed greater deficits in their general knowledge of the disease and in methods to minimise risk of infection. The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to the need for urgent implementation and ongoing evaluation of multifaceted educational programmes.
Issues of risk practice and welfare in learning disability services
- Authors:
- MANTHORPE Jill, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 12(1), February 1997, pp.69-82.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Focuses on risk management in services for people with learning disabilities. It identifies the issue of risk as central to many historical and current care practices. It illustrates this through three examples that raise questions of risk in relationship to people with learning disabilities on community care, alcohol and sexuality. Concludes that risk has often been negatively associated with danger, but that sensitive risk management has the potential to improve or maintain the quality of care services.
Management of sexually inappropriate behaviours in men with learning disabilities
- Authors:
- GREEN Gill, GRAY Nicola S., WILLNER Paul
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology (The), 14(1), April 2003, pp.85-110.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Care professionals were interviewed regarding the extent, nature and victims of inappropriate sexual behaviour of 46 men with learning disabilities, and an adapted form of a version of the Structured Anchored Clinical Judgement risk assessment protocol (SACJ-Min) was completed for each. Risk judgements were unrelated to objective risk, as assessed by the SACJ-Min, to seriousness or frequency of sexual offending, to treatment outcome, or to a wide variety of other factors examined. The variables most strongly associated with risk judgements were the presence of a child victim and criminal convictions for inappropriate sexual behaviour, both of which, paradoxically, were perceived to decrease the risk of reoffending. Respondents were con dent that existing management arrangements were effective in decreasing the risk of reoffending, and that the more intensely clients were supervised, the greater was the decrease in risk. However, level of supervision was unrelated to objective risk, as assessed by the SACJ-Min, to seriousness or frequency of sexual offending, to identity of the victims targeted, or to a wide variety of other factors examined. A few variables were found to be associated with supervision level, but in every case these differences are most plausibly understood as consequences of supervision, rather than causes. The results suggest that the management of sexually inappropriate behaviour in men with learning disabilities has little if any rational basis.