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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 Story to Tell': learning from the life-stories of older people with intellectual disabilities in Ireland
- Authors:
- HAMILTON Carol, ATKINSON Dorothy
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 37(4), December 2009, pp.316-322.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This article, drawing on life-stories told by older people with intellectual disabilities for a research study in the Republic of Ireland, interviewed 15 research participants over the age of 60 who recalled, in an hour long life-story collecting meeting, their experiences of confinement, coercion and exclusion that resulted from their being labelled as having intellectual disabilities. The participants also recalled the positive interactions with workers and family members that sustained them during those difficult times. Extracts from these narratives show how past medical and social processes interlinked to classify members of this group as 'deficient' or 'lacking' in some way. Life-stories collected in this project illustrate the value of a narrative approach to exploring how services might begin to enhance the quality of support currently available to older people with intellectual disabilities. The authors’ state, however, life-story work in a service setting is far from straightforward, and further support is needed for staff involved in this process.