Sexuality and Disability - Relationships and Disability

Relationships and Disability

People with disabilities have the same basic human need to form close relationships as do other people. However, Western culture has had a long history of secluding and segregating people with disabilities, greatly inhibiting their ability to meet and socialize with many people. Many people still take it for granted that someone with a disability is either uninterested in romance or sexuality, or is unable to participate in sexual activity.

Stereotypes about disability add to the difficulty and stigma for people with disabilities. Myths about men and women with disabilities have been identified as follows.:

• Men and Women with disabilities don't need sex.
• Men and Women with disabilities are not sexually attractive.
• Men and Women with disabilities are 'oversexed.'
• Men and Women with disabilities have more important needs than sex.
• Boys and Girls living with disabilities don't need sexuality education.
• Men and Women who live with disabilities can't have 'real' sex.
• Sex must be spontaneous and/or have a set time.
• Men and Women with disabilities and retardation should not have children and not allowed to have children.

Up to 50% of adults with disabilities are not in any sexual relationship at all, according to one survey.

Dozens of online dating sites specifically aimed at people with disabilities have formed in recent years to fill this void. A 2012 Australian documentary directed by Catherine Scott, Scarlet Road, explores another aspect of the void facing people with disabilities, as it shows a sex worker who has specialized for 18 years in a clientele who have disabilities.