Issues of Sexuality and Relationships

Abstract

People with intellectual disability have the same sexuality, sexual health and relationship needs as the general population. Yet they experience greater difficulties accessing their sexuality rights, have generally poorer outcomes, and often experience barriers to having respectful intimate relationships. There are a number of historical issues that, despite the progression from segregation to inclusion, remain problematic. These include being victims of sexual abuse, being subjected to involuntary sterilisation and having their sexuality regulated by others. Despite this, there is an emerging body of research that seeks to move beyond simply describing problems and towards strategies to counter these disadvantages. This chapter will describe the historical and current context of the key sexuality and relationship issues facing people with intellectual disability. This includes an overview of gender-specific issues, the role of the family, sex education, sexual knowledge assessment, and cultural considerations. To ensure a focus on theory, research and practice, the chapter finishes with an overview of current research gaps, and future areas of need.