Family Planning, Sexuality Education

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Family Planning, Sexuality Education People
with Disabilities
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Family Planning promotes
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
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Sexuality
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. Its also an affirmation of
ones own body and its functioning. Sexuality
includes behaviours and emotions, as well as an
individuals 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 doesnt have
to be sexually active to express their sexuality.
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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.
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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.
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Six Sexual Rights of People with Intellectual
Disabilities
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.
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continued
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.
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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
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FACT! 95 of the population will become sexually
active at some point in their life . . . Who do
you think makes up the other 5?
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Barriers
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Societys 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.
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• 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.

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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 persons 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.
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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

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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

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

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• 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.

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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.

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Remember knowledge is power . . .
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• And remember to celebrate that a person with a
  disability is more alike than different to others!