Sexuality and disability is sexual behavior and practices of disabled people. Disabled people have a range of sexual desires and differ in the ways they choose to express their sexuality. Commonly, people with disabilities lack sex education that would assist in their sexual lives. This roots from the idea that disabled people are asexual in nature and are not sexually active. Although some disabled people are asexual, it is a misconception to label all as such. Many disabled people lack rights and privileges to have intimacy and relationships. When it comes to sexuality and disability there is a sexual discourse that surrounds it. The intersection of sexuality and disability is often associated with victimization, abuse, and purity.
For physical disabilities that change a person's sexual functioning, such as spinal cord injury there are methods, that assist where needed. A disabled person may enjoy sex with the help of sex toys and physical aids (such as bed modifications), by finding suitable sex positions, or through the services provided by a qualified sex worker.
Video Sexuality and disability
History
Much of the sexual biases in the United States are traced back to Puritan ethics. Issues on the acceptance of sexuality and disability root back to 2000 years. The review of history on sexuality in philosophy, religion, and science leads to the modern day views on sexuality and disability. Religious institutions were the first entities to combat sexuality. They believed that sex was a sin and should not be practiced unless it was done with intents of reproducing. Then doctors began developing medical views on sex. Sexual pleasure was deemed a sickness. The taboo around sexuality being a disease and sin restricted many people from expressing their sexuality, especially disabled people.
After much groundbreaking research, it was not until the 20th century that sex and pleasure became normalized. With the normalization of sex, pleasure became the main focus. Healthy sex meant a good performance that led into an orgasm. If a person was not able to orgasm during sex they were seen as inadequate for sexual intercourse. With this a sex therapist would help the individual explore oral sex, and clitoral orgasm. When a person with a disability is not able to achieve an orgasm it was not seen as problematic, because they did not have sexual desires. The neglect on the sexual lives of people with disabilities roots from the idea that they are child like and asexual. Because disabled people do not fall under the category of being sexual, there were no resources for them to seek sexual assistance.
Over the years sexually disenfranchised groups were working towards sexual acceptance for all people, including queer and disabled communities. The work of these groups began to open doors for disabled people to become more expressive of their sexuality. Even with these new found opportunities, sexual pleasure for disabled people remained unspoken of.
Maps Sexuality and disability
Self-image
Having a disability may sometimes create an emotional or psychological burden for the disabled person. They may feel inhibition about pursuing relationships, fearing rejection on the basis that they have a disability. Self-image may suffer as a result of disfigurement, or lack of confidence. A New York disabled dating service manager explains, "Sexuality, travel, mobility, pain: Everything takes on a different dimension." In The Ultimate Guide to Sex and Disability, Miriam Kaufman points out that attempting to hide a disability or minimize its existence is ultimately an added burden, encouraging readers to "come out" to themselves as disabled, to accept their disability.
There is often fear associated with the intersection of sexuality and disability. Many disabled people embody a fear of being rejected due to the way they look. This hypersensitivity causes the disabled individual to keep interactions platonic. Author of Sex and Disability Robert McRuer studied a disabled man. McRuer gave insight on the individuals sexual and non-sexual encounters. This man had a belief that crossing the line into sexual encounters meant it would cause severe bodily hard for him. During a sexual encounter, the man felt very uncomfortable and could not cross the sexual boundary. This was due to his fear of being judged. This is an issue common in some disabled people. The "evaluative gaze" coming from others causes disabled people to feel judged and uncomfortable in their own bodies.
It is a common misconception that disabled people are insecure and have a negative self-image. A study was done on 7 adolescents with cerebral palsy, to assess their self-image. Of the group there were 3 girls and 4 boys, ranging between 12 and 17 years old. A personality inventory was conducted and the results came out to be positive. The group of disabled adolescents viewed themselves very positively, rating their self-image higher than norm groups. After the inventory, the interviewer Lena Adamson came up with this conclusion in her brief report- Self-image, Adolescence and Disability. American Journal of Occupational Therapy.
"The following conclusions are made: Further studies on self-image and the psychosocial development of disabled adolescents should (a) focus on the social interaction outside their immediate families, and (b) continue to use and develop methods where these adolescents can give voice to their own experiences and opinions."
In contemporary society
Disabled people are rarely regarded in society as sexy or believed to be sexually active. When sex and disability are linked, it is common for marginalization to occur. Many people shy away from the idea that disabled people can have sex. This is due to a lack of information on the subject. Popular scholarly texts on disability rarely discuss sex, conversely disability is rarely discussed in the field of sexuality studies. Disability studies is a new field, it is just recently beginning to have a voice in the scholarly communities. Cultural theory on HIV and AIDS is one area of study that has broadly considered disability and sex. Since the AIDS epidemic the queer community have been including physical and intellectually disabled people in their activist interventions. But even with these efforts, the correlation between sexuality and disability are not discussed in disability studies.
In society it is widely believed that disabled women are asexual. One reason for this belief is that disabled people are seen as eternal children. Others see the intertwine of sex and disability as an acrobatic act. It is difficult for many people to imagine a disabled person having sex, because of the restricting impairments. Viewing women with disabilities as asexual has its issues. In contemporary United States disabled women are not viewed as physically attractive because society does not view them as sexually desirable. This results in disabled women to be limited and constrained to love and be loved.
In the United States pleasure and sex have been largely ignored, especially when it comes to disabled people. Medical facilities, public schools, and religious groups have created a "don't ask don't tell policy" when it comes to sex education. The United States government has spent over 500 million dollars funding a program that restricts public schools from teaching sex in the classroom. The idea is that people should remain abstinent until marriage. This dominant idea has silenced many public institutions.
In society sex is portrayed appropriate only for single, young, heterosexual and able bodied people. Because of this spaces to express sexuality are minimized for disabled people. Disabled people are marginalized so the intersection of sexuality and disability is not recognized. When an individual is sexually active, they tend to exclude disabled people from their sexual space. These attitudes have served to shun out personal and public sexual pleasure for disabled people.
In mainstream media people who are queer, dark, big, older, and disabled are absent when it comes to sexual portrayals. This is also true when it comes to medical and scientific literature. The biological idea that sex is meant for reproduction has been damaging to the sexual lives of disabled people. Because some disabilities restrict an individual from having children, the idea of this person having sex is eliminated. After this the disabled person is no longer a candidate for reproduction. This social cultural viewpoint creates the need in society to protect disabled people from harm, by keeping them away from all sexual encounters.
Sexual activity
General
The mechanics of sex may be daunting, and communication, experimentation, medication and manual devices have been cited as important factors for sexual activity where disability is involved. Additionally, recognition of the pleasure that is derived from sexual activity beyond penetration and intercourse is also highlighted. For example, changes may take place in a person's sexuality after spinal cord injury; sensitivity to touch can increase above the lesion location in someone with a spinal injury. From research undertaken by the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, orgasm was achievable for 79% of men with incomplete spinal cord injuries and 28% of men with complete injuries.
Oral sex is another alternative where penetration is not possible or not wanted, and wedge devices can be used to aid with positioning--wedges can be used as an aid in sex generally. Sex toys may be used as assistive devices as well; for example, vibrators can be used to provide extra stimulation and in circumstances where hand mobility is impaired. Other supportive devices include manual stimulation pumps, for erection promotion and maintenance, and "sex furniture", whereby rail or clamp enhancements, or specialised designs facilitate sexual activity.
Writer Faiza Siddiqui sustained a serious brain injury that led to a decrease in her sexual drive and the loss of her ability to orgasm, with the latter most likely the result of damage to Siddiqui's hypothalamus. Siddiqui explained her learning process in relation to sexual activity following the accident in a 2013 article:
I had to clear away all the thoughts I had about my imperfect body ... Since then, I've started to feel less shame about my unresponsive body ... My brain can't concentrate on as many things anymore, so I have to focus more on every little twinge and the lightest of touches. Surely that's going to mean better sex? I can't say that the sex is exactly better - I can't be on top anymore - but I'm learning that it doesn't really matter ... I had to grow up. Growing up is something that we're all having to do.
Some people with a spinal cord injury are able to "transfer their orgasm" using sexual energy to any part of the body that has sensation. For example, Rafe Biggs acquired a spinal cord injury in 2004. Through his work with a sexologist he discovered during a massage that when his thumb was being massaged; it felt very similar to his penis. It was through this experience that he learned that he could transfer his orgasm, using tantric energy, to his penis. Kenneth Ray Stubbs also has a spinal cord injury and is able to use tantric bodywork to obtain an "orgasmic feeling". If a person is able to use sexual energy correctly then they would be able to experience an orgasm in any part of the body that is capable of feeling sensation.
Fetishes and BDSM
Sexuality for disabled people is often linked to fetishes and "freakish excess."
- Abasiophilia is when an individuals sexual arousal is dependent on a disabled sexual partner. The obsession is most common for people with disabilities who wear leg braces.
- Apotemnophilia is self demanded amputation.
Apotemnophilia is when an individual amputates his own limb for sexual pleasure. A case research done in the Journal of Sex Research states "Apotemnophillia is related to erotization of the stump and to overachievement despite a handicap." Little is known about the relationship between sexual pleasure and amputated limbs. This is due to the fetish being fairly new. Apotemnophilia was first introduced to the public in the magazine Penthouse in late 1972. The fetish was brought up by a young man with a disability who practices this fetish. After reading his accounts some editors of the magazine related with this feelings and published his story.
Some individuals who have this fetish, have made successful amputation attempts. For those who want to be amputated but do not have the means or strength to do so, are able to get professional assistance.
- Devotism is the sexual attraction someone has for a disabled person
Sex and disability does not only have an unattractive connotation. Sex and Disability writer Robert McRuer found that Devotism had renewed self-assurance in a group of women with disabilities. He writes "Women who had felt profound shame about their bodies reported significant gains in their self-confidence after discovering devotees." This empowerment has led to positive changes in the women's behavior. It has been reported by Robert McRuer that because of this some women with disabilities are more confident in their self-image and do not hide their disabilities as they previously have.
People who have a devotism fetish are referred to as Devotees. Robert McRuer argues that devoteeism relies on disgust and desire. The description of the devotees desire come from an ableist assumption that disabled bodies are disgusting. It is typical for a devotees to view themselves as the only people who are sexually attracted to amputees. That they are the only ones capable of desiring a person with disabilities. This belief establishes a ground for Devotees exceptionalism.
BDSM is a topic in the sex and disability culture. It has been described as empowering for people with disabilities because of their acceptance of non-normative bodies. BDSM could be used as a way to control pain for people with chronic pain. Bob Flanagan used BDSM to help him cope with his Cystic Fibrosis. His ability to control his own pain excited him as he was known to push himself as far as he could. "I was making a mockery out of something serious that had happened to me," said Flanagan when making light of his pain related to Cystic Fibrosis. Flanagan was an artist. He was a writer, an actor, and also created a traveling museum exhibit called "Visiting Hours" that showed the intersectionality of Cystic Fibrosis and sadism and masochism. In the exhibit, "Visiting Hours", museumgoers would experience an environment that was a combination of a children's residential hospital and a BDSM torture chamber. The purpose of this exhibit was to portray Flanagan's pain through a pleasurable lens showing that BDSM could offer some sexual healing.
Disabled women and girls are a common focus in fetishism due to their immobility. This makes them especially vulnerable to sexual abuse.
Sex work
In February 2013, it was reported that disabled citizens in the Netherlands were eligible for a government-funded scheme that provided funds to cover up to 12 occasions of sexual service per year. During the same period, Chris Fulton, a campaigner in the UK with cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy, called upon the UK government to also provide financial support for sexual services for disabled people. Fulton explained:
The idea is to give disabled people more of a choice. There's still a lot of stigma attached [to disabled people having relationships] from research I've done and experiences I've had. I think it would be good to bring the Dutch scheme over here to take away that stigma about disabled people having sex. But it's not just about that. It's about disabled people being accepted when they have relationships ... It needs to be brought out into the open in a managed and constructive way.
In early 2013, former brothel owner Becky Adams spoke with the media about her intention to open a non-profit brothel exclusively for disabled people in the UK, which, if launched in 2014, will be the nation's first legal initiative of this nature. Adams stated that she will invest £60,000 into the brothel after suffering a stroke in 2009--Adams explained that after the stroke, her "eyes were suddenly opened. I was utterly unaware that such a big group was suffering so enormously." If she is approved for a permit, Adams plans to open a two-room service in Milton Keynes, near London, that will be staffed by sex workers and assistants.
Adams also founded the Para-Doxies service in 2012, which connects disabled people throughout the UK with sex workers--at the time, Adams ran the service on a completely voluntary, non-profit basis. In April 2013, the service was receiving over 500 enquiries a week from men, women and couples, and was struggling to cope with the demand.
A 2011 Australian documentary directed by Catherine Scott, Scarlet Road, explores another aspect of sexuality and disabilities through the life of a sex worker who has specialized for 18 years in a clientele who have disabilities. In 2012, the topic was highlighted in a fictional film based on the real life experience of writer Mark O'Brien. The Sessions portrays the relationship between O'Brien, who survived polio as a child, and a "sexual surrogate" to whom he loses his virginity. A member of the British Polio Fellowship states that post-polio syndrome, which affects polio survivors later in life, is a little-known condition that could have been explored in the film.
A survey conducted by the Disability Now magazine in 2005 found that 19% of female participants would see trained sex workers, compared with 63% of the male respondents. Tuppy Owens, sex therapist and disability professional, explained in 2013 that disabled women "don't trust male sex workers to be honourable".
LGBT
To be LGBT or queer and disabled is a double marginalization. Disabled people are often either viewed as nonsexual or hypersexual. Because of these misconceptions it is hard to find queer people with disabilities portrayed in healthy sexual lives. During the recent decades, scholars have been working to include disabilities studies into queer theory, with the intentions of normalizing disabled queers. Queer and disabled liberation starts with the denial of historic ideas on sexuality and disability.
It is also rare to have a disabled queer person portrayed in media. Some movies and literature do exist for the queer disabled communities such as:
- Akers, Michael D. (director). 2012. Morgan (film). United Gay Network
This movie is about a bicyclist who gets in an accident and becomes paraplegic. After the bicyclist recovers from his injuries, he becomes intact with his sexuality and falls in love with a man named Dean.
- Alland, Sandra (filmmaker). 2013-2014. I'm Not Your Inspiration (documentary film series)
This is a short documentary series documenting the lives of queer and trans people with disabilities.
Relationships
Disabled people's access to sexual and emotional partners is restricted by societies de-eroticization of their sexuality. The experiences of disabled people has shown that the basic human need to form close relationships is as relevant for disabled people as it is for humans without a disability. Furthermore, the social networks of people with disabilities can be small and this restricts the ability to form new relationships. Society's view of disability also puts pressure of disabled people in finding relationships. Even though our society has made great strides with creating a more accepting world, disabled people are still seen as outsiders. Parents prevent their children from asking disabled people questions which results in them viewing disabled people as "other". While the majority of able-bodied people meet other people in public spaces there are many physical and social barriers. The lack of access to public spaces, whether it be stairs; an absence of menus written in braille; or no ASL interpreters; could make it difficult and almost impossible for a disabled person to go out. Disabled people also participate in online dating. Not only are there websites that are for online dating, but there are also websites that are solely for people with disabilities finding someone that is also disabled or someone that wants to date a disabled person.
Disability stereotypes add to the difficulty and stigma experienced by disabled people. The following myths about disabled people have been identified:
- Disabled people don't need sex.
- Disabled people are not sexually attractive.
- Disabled people are "oversexed".
- Disabled people have more important needs than sex.
- Disabled people don't need sexuality education.
- Disabled people can't have real sex.
- Sex must be spontaneous and/or have a set time.
- Disabled people, particularly those with intellectual disabilities, should not have children and should not be allowed to have children.
According to one survey, up to 50% of disabled adults are not in any sexual relationship at all. Online dating sites specifically aimed at disabled people have been founded to fill this void.
Misperceptions from the broader community has been raised as a prominent issue for disabled people in terms of their own relationships. The head of a disabled dating service explained in 2010: "Like anyone else, people with disabilities have different preferences. Someone with good mobility may prefer someone also mobile; others don't limit at all." In a 2012 Sydney Morning Herald, the mother of a man with cerebral palsy explained, "It's hard being a parent and this [sexuality] comes up. People see them sitting in their wheelchair think, that's it. They don't see what's going on in their lives and Mark [son] would dearly love a relationship."
Oppression
There is a long history of seclusion and segregation that has affected society's view of disabled people. For years disabled people have been segregated from society. Disabled people were put in institutions against their will because they were deemed "weak" and "feeble minded." While they were in the institutions they would experience compulsory sterilization a.k.a. forced sterilization. The types of sterilization would include vasectomies, salpingectomy, and other types as well. None of these were considered dangerous to the person in the institution. In 1927, the case of Buck versus Bell stated that it was permissible to sterilize people against their will. It is also stated in the decision that it did not violate the 14th Amendment. People with disabilities were institutionalized against their will until the passing of the Olmstead Act in 1999 where it stated that disabled people were to be placed in community settings instead of institutions.
According to a series of interviews taken place in Malta investigating the sexual lives of men and women with intellectual disabilities, most individuals reported that they felt oppressed by the expectations from families and caretakers to not engage in sexual activity or a relationship . As a result of the study, almost all individuals expressed a desire to be able to talk openly about their relationships and spend more time away from the family. And while all people's sexualities are controlled and limited by social norms, those with disabilities feel that they are limited by further factors . Another study in Texas explored the beliefs of the families and caretakers of the intellectually disabled on their sexualities. The results proved that the majority of families and caretakers of the intellectually disabled believed that those with disabilities should not engage in sexual activity because of the fear that they will be taken advantage of . A resolution to the oppression that the disabled face when it comes to sexuality is educating families on these researches and educating the disabled on their own sexualities and life options.
Sexual harassment, assault, and domestic violence
Disabled people are no less vulnerable than non-disabled people to harassment, assault, and domestic violence. Disabled people are more vulnerable to sexual assault than the general public, being targeted due to the physical or mental impairments that they have. The American Journal of Preventive Medicine has published results of a survey that found that males with disabilities are 4 times more likely to be sexually abused. Other studies have shown that for disabled women, "regardless of age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or class [they] are assaulted, raped, and abused at a rate two times greater than women without disabilities [... the] risk of being physically assaulted for an adult with developmental disabilities is 4-10 times higher than for other adults".
According to the, it is estimated that 25% of both disabled girls and boys will experience sexual abuse before the age of 18. It is also estimated that 20% of these incidents are reported. These rates are much higher than sexual abuse incidents pertaining to nondisabled children. There is a 1 in 4 chance that a girl with developmental disabilities will be molested before the age of 18. This is 10 times higher than the nondisabled population. During the California Committee on Abuse of Person with Disabilities, national statistics estimate the sexual abuse on people with disabilities as such:
"By combining national statistics with specific studies, estimate ranges are as follows: between 39% and 83% of girls with developmental disabilities, and between 16% and 32% of boys with developmental disabilities will be subjected to sexual abuse before the age of 18 years. Incidence of sexual abuse among the population of persons with developmental disabilities was estimated in 1985 by the California State Department of Developmental Services to be 70% "
A majority of the predators are documented to be the father or stepfather of the victim. This is especially true for females with developmental disabilities. It is estimated that 10% of girls with intellectual disabilities are victims of incest. Females are most likely to be victims of sexual abuse. Studies show 50% of disabled females have experience multiple incidents of sexual abuse and 80% of disabled males experienced 1 incident. The numbers for sexual abuse are so high because the perpetrators are well known to the individual, such as a parent, uncle, aunt, cousin, friend, caretaker or sibling.
The statistics on sexual abuse for disabled people with disabilities are also high because staff and dependent parents are not adequately trained on identifying sexual abuse. Many staff believe that sexual abuse must be proven before it is reported. The issue with this is that certain disabilities restrict the individual from expressing the experience. Dependent Adults with training on identifying abuse are more effective in protecting the child. Most programs focus on "stranger danger", which is not effective because most sexual abuse assaults come from the individuals inner circle.
With more and more cases of sexual abuse reported towards disabled people, organizations and state government have taken action. Training seminars are available online and in person for sexual abuse prevention for disabled people. Various groups also provide these training seminars such as The Child Abuse Councils, Disability Conferences, and Sexuality Organizations. Government social service agencies also provide assistance for sexually abused disabled people.
Prevention
Several prevention programs against sexual abuse for disabled people exist in the United States.
- Seattle
In Seattle, United States a program called Seattle Project trains developmentally disabled individuals on sexual assault prevention
- Minnesota
In Minnesota, the Department of Corrections created a prevention program where disabled children and adults are trained in all aspects of abuse prevention.
- California
In California, there is the Waters Child Abuse Prevention Training Act (WCBTA). This program attempts to provide all children with abuse prevention. Each program caters to the child's age and learning level. In Contra Costa County, California, the WCBTA focuses on the needs of various disabilities and sexual abuse prevention. In Los Angeles County Office of Education they have created a Preschool Abuse Prevention Program for Disabled Children. In this teachers are instructed to train disabled students on physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.
Resources
Sex guides depicting various sexual positions, as well as other written material, can be helpful for couples who need to address mobility impairments, as well as for those who are caring for or working with disabled people. Such resources, written by people with expertise in disability issues, are in print, including: "Sexuality and Learning Disability", by Claire Fanstone and Zarine Katrak; The Ultimate Guide to Sex and Disability, published by Cleis Press, which consists of advice from disabled people; and Holding On, Letting Go, a book for parents written by John Drury, Lynne Hutchinson and Jon Wright.
The creation of the "Sexual Respect Tool Kit" was initiated by Alex Cowan, a professional working in the disability field in the UK, and Owens after the Outsiders/Royal Society of Medicine conference "Disability: Sex Relationships and Pleasure", held in 2009. Cowan, a consultant with multiple sclerosis (MS) who discovered the lack of sex-related support for PWD through personal experience, worked with Owens to form a group of experts, consisting of people such as human rights law lecturer Claire de Than and sex educator Sue Newsome, to further develop the tool kit concept. The finished resource is designed to assist health professionals in the UK to initiate discussions on sex and related matters with disabled people.
Disability Horizons is a UK magazine co-founded by Srin Madipalli and Martyn Sibley, who both have spinal muscular atrophy and continue as co-editors. The publication is self-described as a "21st Century View of Disability" and seeks to "help disabled people achieve whatever they wish." Disability Now is another UK magazine that is published by Scope, a national cerebral palsy organisation. The publication appointed its first disabled editor in September 2007 and had a circulation of 20,000 at the time.
An academic journal founded in 1978, called Sexuality and Disability, is described by its publisher, Springer Publishing, as "A Journal Devoted to the Psychological and Medical Aspects of Sexuality in Rehabilitation and Community Settings". Its current Editor-in-Chief is Sigmund Hough.
PleasureABLE is a sexual device manual, made for disabled people. The manual was created to assist any race, gender, age, and sexual orientation with their sexual life. The authors of PleasureABLE believe that sexuality should be embraced, pleasurable, and talked about. PleasureABLE's manual discusses anatomy, routines, safety, devices for physical disabilities, positioning, and safe sex. These topics are geared towards disabled people and health care professionals.
Organizations
Australia
The subject of the Scarlet Road documentary, Rachel Wotton, also co-founded and helps run Touching Base, an organization based in New South Wales, Australia that provides information, education and support for disabled clients, sex workers and Disability Service Providers. The organization has been active since October 2000 following the formation of the founding committee that consisted of disability and health organization representatives. Wotton explains, "I am a sex worker and I make my money from clients seeing me. Some clients just happen to have a disability." Initially, the organization was receiving around one weekly phone call, but by 2012, inquiries were daily.
In March 2014, former Australian High Court judge Michael Kirby became a patron of the organization, joining four other inaugural patrons: Eva Cox, Professor Basil Donovan, Associate Professor Helen Meekosha, and NSW Local Government elder statesman Peter Woods. Following his appointment, Kirby stated: "If you deny sexual expression to human beings, cut them off from that aspect of their personalities and of their happiness, then you end up with a lot of very frustrated and very unhappy people", and he praised Touching Base for recognising that people with disabilities need "to have opportunities for sexual expression".
United Kingdom
- TLC Trust
The TLC Trust provides a web-based service that facilitates the provision of sexual services--sex workers, therapists, and teachers--for disabled people, including a phone call appointment-booking service for those people with speech impairments or care workers who are unable to organize such services for clients due the policy of their employer. The TLC Trust was founded in 2000 at a Sexual Freedom Coalition Conference and the website was initially run by James Palmer, a disabled man. The organization has garnered praise from sex educator and performance artist Annie Sprinkle, and academic and writer A.C. Grayling.
- Outsiders
Founded by Owens, Outsiders is primarily an international social club for disabled people, but the organization also runs the Sex and Disability Helpline, a telephone support service for disabled people that is staffed by both disabled people and health professionals. Outsiders is supported by the Outsiders Trust, which consists of a Board of Trustees that assists with the management of matters such as finances and projects.
- Sexual Health and Disability Alliance (SHADA)
The Sexual Health and Disability Alliance, also founded by Owens, was first started to provide a forum in which all of the UK's disability helpline operators, and others, could meet and discuss their work. The individuals who were initially involved state that they were "eager to improve the sex-positive work we do" and the Alliance was eventually formalized in 2008 with a mission to "bring together health professionals who work with disabled people to empower and support them in their sex and relationship needs." The Alliance does not charge a fee for those interested in becoming members and meets biannually in London. It held its first conference in 2009 at the Royal Society of Medicine.
- The Disabilities Trust
The Disabilities Trust is over 30 years old and is a leading charitable organization in the UK. It states that it provides "residential and day services to meet the needs of individuals with Autism, Brain Injury, Physical Disability and Learning Disability", as well as helping people to live at home in the community. The Trust has produced written information on sexuality and disability, which are freely available on the Internet.
United States
- Reach Out USA
Reach out USA is an advocacy organization that focuses on the relationship between disability and LGBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender) concerns. The groups goal is to influence disabled communities to be more aware of the LGBT communities, and LGBT communities and organizations to be more accountable and welcoming of disabled communities. Reach Out USA also helps out with other topics such as mental illness, suicide, depression and much more.
- Queerability
Queerability is a LGBT and disabled rights advocacy group that is run by LGBT disabled people who hope to increase visibility to the community. The goal of this group is to ensure that the voices of LGBT disabled people are heard. The organization gives them a large social platform to express themselves. Queerability does not only advocate for the rights of LGBT disabled communities, but also provides educational sources pertaining to the individuals sexuality and disability. Some of the sources they provide include: How to Meet, Date, and Have Sex When You're Disabled, Practical Sex Tips for Disabled People, Good Sex Positions for Disabled Sex, Talking About Sensitive Topics and more.
See also
- Sexuality in older age
- Sexuality after spinal cord injury
- New Mobility magazine
- Sexual abuse and intellectual disability
- Disability and women's health
References
External links
- Point of View educational website about Sex and Disability
- Disabled World: Disability Sexuality - Information on Sex and Sexual Issues with Disabilities
- Sexuality and Disability online journal
- Scarlet Road official website
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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