The sexuality of people with disabilities is an area that has received a considerable amount of attention and much of the writing in this area reflects the struggle of people with disabilities to be seen as sexual beings.
TITLE: Responding to the sexuality of people with mental handicap
AUTHORS: Coley, L., & Marler, R.
PUBLICATION INFORMATION: 1987
In G. Horobin (Ed.), Sex, gender and care work (pp. 66-81). New York: St. Martin's Press.
St. Martin's PressThis chapter states that the sexuality of people with mental handicap has been largely ignored and in the few instances where it has been considered, the response has been restrictive and over-protective. (The book is British and uses the word mental handicap for mental retardation.) The authors trace some of the restrictive attitudes to the way human services are operated. For example, many group homes are run by Christian groups who insist that residents live up to what is seen as "Christian principles of high morals and values."
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The authors state clearly that people with mental retardation have the same rights and needs to enjoy their sexuality as anyone else, and should have the same right to marry or cohabit as anyone else. Although the chapter does not direct much attention to issues of specific concern to women with disabilities it raises issues of great concern to them, such as forced sterilization and forced abortion.
TITLE: Sexuality and people with intellectual disability
AUTHORS: Fegan, L., Rauch, A., & McCarthy, W.
PUBLICATION INFORMATION: 1993
"Many people with intellectual disability are disadvantaged with regard to sexual fulfillment and enjoyment. They need to be helped to better understand their sexuality and to incorporate this dimension of themselves into their lives as a whole." Based on the underlying premise that all people, regardless of intellectual ability, are sexual beings. Fegan, Rauch, and McCarthy help readers, be they a parent of child with a disability, caregivers, or disability workers, to see that people with intellectual disabilities are sexual beings and have sexual needs. The authors provide many useful suggestions to approaching the issue of sexuality with people with an intellectual disability. Issues discussed include: physical development, masturbation, sexual intercourse, homosexuality, sexual health, fertility, and safe sex.
TITLE: Reproductive issues for persons with physical disabilities
AUTHORS: Haseltine, F. P., Cole, S. S., & Gray, D. B. (Eds.)
PUBLICATION INFORMATION: 1993
This book challenges the social stereotypes about reproduction and disabilities and presents the fact that people with disabilities do have sexual needs and desires. The chapters in this book explore the reproductive issues associated with congenital and acquired disabilities, and include such topics as fertility, health care needs, contraception, adoption, genetic counseling, pregnancy, parenting, sexually transmitted diseases, sexual dysfunction, and reproductive physiology. Contributing authors include researchers, people with disabilities, academics, medical professionals, and psychologists.
The book is an interesting blend of academic articles and personal stories. For examples, a rather clinical article about how a woman with a disability may experience pregnancy, labor and delivery, is preceded by a personal account of a woman with a physical disability sharing her experiences of pregnancy and childbirth. By weaving these two styles together in this way, the book becomes more than a clinical guide to reproduction and sexuality, rather it becomes a book for people with disabilities to share their experiences in these areas, which is a much needed addition to the literature on sexuality and disability.
TITLE: I contact - Sexuality and people with developmental disabilities (2nd Ed.)
AUTHOR: Hingsburger D.
PUBLICATION INFORMATION: 1991
VIDA PublishingIn 1990, Hingsburger first wrote this book for service providers with the underlying premise that "all people can love and all people can make human contact." Starting with the story of his own `hang-ups' in counseling people with developmental disabilities in relation to their sexuality and expression of this sexuality, Hingsburger teaches the reader a valuable lesson about who knows best what an individual needs. Other issues Hingsburger teaches us about include: the basis of love, privacy, relationships, and sexuality counseling.
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TITLE: Affection, love, intimacy, and sexual relationships
AUTHORS: Jurkowski, E., & Amado, A. N.
PUBLICATION INFORMATION: 1993
In A.N. Amado (Ed.), Friendships and community connections between people with and without developmental disabilities (pp. 129-151). Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.As friendship for persons with developmental disabilities receives greater attention and support, attention also needs to be paid to the importance of relationships that include love and physical affection. In this chapter, key issues regarding the sexuality of individuals with disabilities are explored, including how persons with disabilities themselves view the topic. Some sexual "subcultures" for individuals with disabilities that have been created as a result of the service system are described, as well as system factors that affect normal sexual development. The importance of sexuality education is delineated from the vantage point of enhancing quality of life and enhancing relationships, and as an important precursor to prevention of abuse.
TITLE: Understanding and expressing sexuality: Responsible choices for individuals with developmental disabilities
AUTHOR: Monat-Haller, R. K.
PUBLICATION INFORMATION: 1992
"For too long individuals with developmental disabilities and mental retardation have been expected to be asexual." Consequently, these people have been expected to repress their inherent sexuality and to obey rules and regulations that deny their right to sexual expression. Here, the author, through the use of case studies, discusses topics and issues including: human anatomy and physiology, maturation and body changes, inappropriate sexual behavior, abuse, and offenders, birth control options, sexually transmitted diseases, aspects of psychosocial-sexual behavior and psychosocial development, and marriage and parenthood.
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