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.
A gem of a service
- Author:
- McMILLAN Ian
- Journal article citation:
- Learning Disability Today, 10(2), April 2009, pp.15-17.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
The author describes The Pearl Service at the West London Centre for Sexual Health which is providing sexual health services for people with learning disabilities.
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.
The sexual lives of men with mild learning disability: a qualitative study
- Authors:
- YACOUB Evan, HALL Ian
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 37(1), March 2009, pp.5-11.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study aimed to explore the sexual lives and behaviour of men with mild learning disabilities living both in community and in secure hospital settings. Narrative interviews that focused on areas such as relationships, sex education, contraception and the attitudes of others towards the participants' sexual lives and orientation were used. Several clients reported engaging in unsafe practices despite being aware of the risks. Participants generally felt that services had shifted from a paternalistic to a more supportive approach towards their sexual lives and orientation. Experiences with other men were commonly reported. Several participants reported being pressurised into sex as adults. In the sample, sexual knowledge did not lead to safe sexual practices. The good rapport with services reported by the participants may be utilised to provide further education and empowerment to improve the safety of sexual practices in this group. Other ways of improved service delivery are suggested.
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.
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.
Defining 'sexualized challenging behavior' in adults with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- LOCKHART Karen, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 6(4), December 2009, pp.293-301.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Given their connotations of criminal intent or insight, the terms "sexual offending" and "abuse" are problematic in their applicability to people with learning disabilities. The authors propose adopting the term "sexualised challenging behaviour" and define it by using empirical methods. Using a qualitative methodology, they examined a six-month sample of service-based documentation reporting problem sexual behaviours. They also conducted semi-structured interviews with a staff-based sample and explored their views in relation to sexual behaviour. Common themes emerged across both documentation and staff interviews regarding the nature and characteristics of such behaviours. Their proposed definition encompasses a continuum of self- and other-directed behaviours related to touch, exposure, and communication, which they view as distinct from sexual offending. The findings further suggest that sexualised challenging behaviours have distinct characteristics that differentiate them from nonsexualised challenging behaviours. The authors conclude that sexualised challenging behaviours can be defined as a distinct class of behaviours that require further study among a broader cohort of adults with learning disabilities.
Staff attitudes towards the sexuality of people with learning disabilities: a comparison of different professional groups and residential facilities
- Authors:
- GRIEVE Alan, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 37(1), March 2009, pp.76-84.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Standardised measures of attitudes towards the sexuality of people with learning disabilities were completed by 188 qualified nurses and other care staff in Tayside, Scotland. Place of employment was a main variable and it was found that nursing home staff held significantly more conservative attitudes when compared with community care staff. This was the case with attitudes towards homosexuality, and attitudes towards the sexuality of people with mild, moderate and severe/profound learning disabilities. Levels of training emerged as a significant factor. These findings suggest that training and education on issues relating to the sexuality of people with learning disabilities may benefit all care staff, and especially those who work in nursing homes. Training may help to change their attitudes and develop an awareness of the ways in which people with learning disabilities form loving and personal relationships.