DSRS4111: Intellectual Disability- Assignment
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Intellectual Disability (DSRS4111)
Added on 2020-02-23
DSRS4111: Intellectual Disability- Assignment
Intellectual Disability (DSRS4111)
Added on 2020-02-23
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DSRS4111: Intellectual DisabilityMajor Assignment - Research Paper on Sexuality and People with intellectualdisabilityDue date 16/11/2017Name of student: Student ID: Topic Coordinator:
Introduction Statement of purpose: This paper will explore the perspectives of sexuality for peoplewith intellectual disability with the context of general staff as well as their family members.The following report is aimed at analyzing different the perspectives and attitudes thatthe society has towards sexuality orientation and intellectual disability (Eastgate, 2008; Gavidia-payne & Meaney-Tavares, 2012). Thereafter, the report provides an illustration of relevant theoretical concepts alongside the evidence that has been previously observed in context of sexuality of individuals with intellectual disability (Bellon, Darragh, Ellison& Reynolds, 2017; Eastgate, 2008). The audience includes people with intellectual disabilities, families and service provider who could get the insights of the sources utilized for the report through an outline of the processes or methods used for literature review followed by the findings from this paper (Gavidia-payne & Meaney-Tavares, 2012). The implications and future recommendations would include finding the impact of the findings on other individuals interested in supporting people with intellectual disability including paid carer or support worker, service provider and family members (Bernert, 2011). Sexuality and intellectual disability The issue considered for this report is related to sexual orientation of people with intellectual disability (Eastgate, 2008). Historically, people in the society perceive people with intellectual disability as childlike, devaluated, unable and taboo for them to be intimate relationship with their love ones (Bellon, Darragh, Ellison, & Reynolds,2017; Eastgate, 2008). Generally, sexuality of an individual is framed from the biological, social and psychological aspect in context of the individual as well as an impact of personal attitude, beliefs and values (Bellon et al., 2017). However, people with intellectual disability face with different challenges on the basisof their sexual orientation (Eastgate, 2008). People with intellectual disabilities experience similar range of attitudes, biological change, sexual thoughts, desires and feeling as other humans (Carr et al., 2017). Eastgate (2008), noted that some people Page 1 of 12Sexuality and People with intellectual disabilityID: 2138107
with intellectual disability could be offered masturbations support instead as form of relieving their sexual tensions or access to pornography videos. Literature review in regards to sexuality and people with intellectual disabilities It observed from various research studies that individuals with intellectual disabilities could be subject to several barriers during their development into adulthood (Bellon etal., 2017; Eastgate, 2008; Insight SBS, 2016). The myths and prejudice or discrimination towards people with intellectual disability and their sexuality orientation are strengthened by lack of attention of society to this issue (Heller, Hsieh & Rimmer 2014; Eastgate, 2008). The evidence based studies and stories or other mixed experiences from both individual with intellectual disability, family carers, services and other health professions acknowledge the lack of social attention to the issue (Bellon et al., 2017; Insight SBS, 2016). The television interviews done with Insight SBS (2016) showed that people with intellectual disability were happy to be in the intimate relationship while others looked forward to be in the relationship (Insight SBS, 2016). For instance, the participants with intellectual disability currently in intimate relationship disclosed thathaving sexual relationship with their partner helped by reducing any pain, increase sleep and social interaction (Insight SBS, 2016). The support workers depicted mixed reactions in context of supporting the sexual orientation of individuals with intellectual disabilities (Insight SBS, 2016). Most families, support staff and paid caregivers had limited awareness in context of sex andintellectual disability believe that they were unable to allow them involve in the sexuality due to different reasons (Insight SBS, 2016). The reasons primarily include lack of communication abilities of person with intellectual disability to consent for having sex, limited sexual education, loneliness and vulnerability to sexual abuse and rape (Kramers- Olen, 2016; Insight SBS, 2016). Furthermore, current studies highlights that professionals and supports works have thepositive attitudes towards people with disabilities which characterized with supportingwith intellectual disability in reaching out to their sexuality needs or orientation (Gavidia-payne & Meaney Tavares, 2012). For instance, the study done by Carley et al. (2009) explores the perception in regards sexuality orientation for people with intellectual disability. The findings highlighted that higher percentages of paid staff Page 2 of 12Sexuality and People with intellectual disabilityID: 2138107
reported significant supportive and had positive attitudes towards sexuality acceptance for people with intellectual disability involving in intimate and non-intimating relationship (Carley et al., 2009); Gavidia-payne & Meaney Tavares, 2012). The paid caregivers had higher understanding of sexuality and disabilities because they had enough training and experience in supporting people with intellectual disability (Gavidia-payne & Meaney Tavares, 2012). Therefore, paid staff had to work together with families for supporting people with intellectual sexual education, empowering people with intellectual disability for learning self protection skill againstsexual abuse and interpersonal skills (Carley et al., 2009; Gavidia-payne & Meaney Tavares, 2012; Insight SBS, 2016). The lack of opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities could result in unplanned pregnancies, sexual abuse and transmitted infections such as HIV (Bernert & Ogletree, 2013) ; Kramers-Olen, 2016). It noted that families get worried for the wellbeing of family members with intellectual disabilities and resort to measures suchas sterilization of women or medication of men without formal consent (Bellon et al., 2017; Kramer-Olen, 2016; Insight SBS, 2016). According to Brown, and Pirtle (2008) noted that any human being has right to choose their sexual orientation without any barriers. Therefore, the restrictive practices such as sterilization of women or medication to the males can be considered as breach of human rights and conventions of people with disability (Bellon et al., 2017;Insight SBS, 2016; UNCRPR, 2016). In addition, Based on the CRPD different article a show the right people with intellectual disability needs to be met in order to enhance their quality of life. The article 5, 10, 24, and 25 says that people with disabilities should have right of life, equality and non-discrimination, education and health (UNCRPR, 2016). Furthermore, it highlighted that the sexual education and self-advocacy in regards to sexuality orientation could improve the quality of life of people with intellectual disability (Brown & Pirtle, 2008; Insight SBS, 2016). For instance, interview done bythe insight SBS (2016) participant disclosed that having partner who could having intimate relationship help them reducing pain, increase social inclusion, sleep well, reduce sperms for the men and live the happy life with partner. Social inclusion is Page 3 of 12Sexuality and People with intellectual disabilityID: 2138107
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