Family Planning, Sexuality Education & People with Disabilities

A positive view of sexuality, informed choice, access to accurate information and quality sexual and reproductive health services. Family Planning believes EVERYBODY has the right to: * Enjoy good sexual and reproductive health * Express their sexuality, but without hurt or violating the rights of others * Honest and accurate information * Awareness and understanding of their sexual feelings * Opportunity to clarify their values * Access to good health care services * Lifelong learning about sexuality * And freedom from infection, unplanned pregnancy, violence and discrimination Family Planning promotes:

Sexuality encompasses the biological, psychological, social, cultural, and spiritual aspects of self. The need and manner to express individual sexuality is unique to every individual and based on factors such as gender, age, personality, socialization, orientation and ethnicity. We are all sexual beings from birth until death. Sexuality is a vehicle to express loyalty, passion, affection, admiration, and esteem to others. It’s also an affirmation of one’s own body and its functioning. Sexuality includes behaviours and emotions, as well as an individual’s knowledge and beliefs. It is a major component of who a person is and not just what s/he does sexually. Feelings are an integral part of human sexuality. A person doesn’t have to be sexually active to express their sexuality. Sexuality

Sex and sexuality can include a range of behaviours and expression – a continuum – including friendship, love, caring, romance, through to erotic behaviours whether alone or with another person. Sexuality can include fantasy, dreams, caressing, massaging, touching, hugging - clothes on or off, kissing, talking about sex, having intercourse, oral sex, touching to orgasm, or looking at sexual images. It may just include getting dressed up, being pampered, having your hair and nails done and feeling sexy.

Family Planning believes people with a disability have the right: * To choose and maintain their own social and personal relationships without fear, criticism or restrictions. * To have their sexual needs and preferences accepted and treated with respect. * To privacy and confidentiality in all aspects of their life including personal relationships. * To have a relationship with someone of their choice, when they are both over 16. * To access information and services that enable them to make informed choices and to keep themselves safe. * To marry, or live with the partner of their choice and have children if they wish. * To decide whether or not to continue a pregnancy. * To give informed consent for any medical treatment which is thought beneficial. * People have a right to assistance with making these decisions if they wish.

From Craft A. (1987), Mental Handicap and Sexuality: issues for individuals with a mental handicap, their parents and professionals. 1) The right to grow up i.e. be treated with the respect and dignity accorded to adults – sexually mature adults. 2) The right to know i.e. have access to as much information about themselves and their bodies and those of other people, their emotions, appropriate social behaviour etc as they can assimilate. 3) The right not to be sexually abused. Six Sexual Rights of People with Intellectual Disabilities:

4) The right to be sexual and to make and break relationships Being sexual is not a right, rather it is integral to being human. The right to express oneself openly sexually is a different matter. 5) The right not to be at the mercy of the individual sexual attitudes of different care-givers. 6) The right to humane and dignified environments To be able to express themselves sexually in safe, accessible places. continued

It is very important to remember that people with disabilities cannot be dumped into one generic group. People with a developmental or intellectual disability usually have a brain injury. Their bodies function perfectly well. People with a physical disability may have a perfectly functioning brain but their body may impede their daily living. People may have both an intellectual and physical disability. Disabilities can be viewed on a continuum – the impact may vary from individual to individual. severe disability minor disability severe impact minor impact

FACT! 95% of the population will become sexually active at some point in their life... Who do you think makes up the other 5%?

Barriers

Society’s Stereotypes Society makes narrow assumptions when it comes to disabled people's sexuality - or non-sexuality as it is more commonly perceived. Society wants to assume that only the physically perfect should be sexual. The general view is that disabled people don't have sex. The mass view seems to be that people with disabilities are asexual.

As with elderly people and the under aged, society prefers to believe people with disabilities are safely tucked up in bed alone People with disabilities are cared for as children - people don't want to see children as sexual beings.

Sometimes family/caregivers can become a bigger disability than the disability itself. There is an assumption their child will never grow up and be in an intimate relationship. So the talks about sexuality and relationships never take place – that part of the person’s life has been written off. This means that the parent/caregiver is the barrier to being in a relationship, not the individual's disability. Caregivers need to realise people with disabilities are capable of having a relationship, and that attitudes can be a major barrier.

Guardianship and People with Intellectual Disabilities Guardianship: While a child is a minor, under 20 and remains unmarried, he or she has a guardian If a person over 20 is totally unable to make or communicate decisions about personal welfare, a welfare guardian may be appointed

Guardians do not have the power to: Decide on a person entering or dissolving a marriage Decide about adoption of their child Refuse consent to standard medical treatment or life saving treatment Consent to brain surgery Consent to being involved in a medical experiment Consent to a non-therapeutic sterilisation of the person for whom he or she acts

Part of the problem is that disabilities are seen as an illness, which isn't at all attractive or sexy.

Disabled people who want a sexual relationship are not just up against the perception that they don't have sex. There are practical issues. A couple need to meet first before they can have a relationship. Where to meet? Finance, access, social skills and opportunity can all be barriers.

Disabled sex is taboo, but denying its existence has never made it go away. It could be argued that by denying a sex life, we deny disabled people their full human rights. Sexuality is a right, not a privilege. However, people with learning disabilities must understand that while sex is a choice it is an important choice and being sexual can have significant consequences.

Overcoming the barriers Education and advocacy by using a team approach. Work with parents, caregivers, teachers, employers and of course the person with the disability. Challenge thinking by examining individuals value and belief systems. Provide correct and comprehensive information.

Remember knowledge is power...

And remember to celebrate that a person with a disability is more alike than different to others!