Learning Disabilties and Sexual Health

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by Eileen Bailey
Monday, February 09, 2009

People with learning disabilities feel discriminated against in many ways. Often, they may feel as if family, friends and professionals treat them as incapable, as if they can't understand the world around them. But, of course, none of this is true. People with learning disabilities usually have average to above average intelligence. They may have difficutly processing information but are quite capable of understanding and acting on the information they learn.

Unfortunately, according to a recent study conducted in Ireland, the discrimination against people with learning disabilities is quite apparent in the area of relationships.

More than 500 people took part in a survey, either by completing a questionnaire or through an interview. The participants were professionals working with teens and adults with LD, caregivers and teens and adults with LD.

Individuals with LD

According to the study, people with LD are interested in discussing sexual health issues but had limited opportunities to do so. Because of this, both knowledge and understanding of sexual health and relationships were limited and incomplete. The participants of the study lacked accurate information regarding  masturbation, contraception, pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. The study further pointed out that the participants were unaware of how to check the accuracy of the information they did have.

Most of the participants indicated that professionals and caregivers restricted their ability to enter into relationships, going so far as some professionals forbidding the people with LD to enter into a relationship.

As would be expected, the participants of the study believed they should have the freedom to decide whether to enter into intimate relationships.

 Caregivers and Family Members

Although most of the care givers taking part in the study indicated people with LD have the right to explore sexual relationships, more than half did not believe it was important. Many felt hesitant at allowing sexual relationships to develop because they feared for safety issues. However, the family members also expressed that they wanted the person with LD to be happy and to experience intimate relationships.

Many of the family members indicated a need for more information on the topic of sexual health specific to people with LD and felt resources were sorely missing.

Professionals

 The staff that worked most closely with people with LD felt pressured by managers to limit sexual relationships between people with LD. Many staff felt this violated privacy but did not feel they had any choice. Many staff felt a need for specific policies that would respect the choices of those people with LD.

The study also provided recommendations to increase the amount and availability of information and resources addressing sexual health issues, including having a specific person available to answer questions.