‘Now I’d like to sleep with Rachael’ – researching sexuality support in a service agency group home

Abstract

Many intellectually disabled people living in agency services require significant forms of support to live safe and satisfying sexual lives. Research reveals that despite support personnel working in service systems now holding largely positive attitudes towards sexuality assistance, proactive practice is rarely initiated. This article probes what might lie within this attitude/assistance gap. This investigation reveals a complex picture of practices that rely on intellectually disabled people showing conformation to a ‘couple doing normal’ ideal, so as to be judged capable of being supported. It examines how wider social locations of meaning related to ‘intellectual disability’ and ‘sexuality’ might substantiate these judgement calls. The degree to which it can be said that worker’s own attitudes and values underpin their reluctance to provide support is then explored. Finally, why researchers and practitioners might need to reappraise the complex interactions that shape worker’s practice in this area is discussed.

Keywords:

• disability
• sexuality
• support

Acknowledgements

I am indebted to my Ph.D. supervisors, Martin Sullivan, Robyn Munford and Michelle Lunn, of Massey University for their expertise and guidance throughout this project. It was not an easy topic. Many thanks are also due to Lise Claiborne, Maureen King and Kelley Johnson for their insightful comments on earlier drafts of this paper.

Notes

1. The difficulties I outline suggest the strength of the social taboos that continue to surround talking about and researching in the area of sexuality and intellectual disability support. This aspect of my research findings will be developed more fully in a forthcoming article.