Disability and Sexuality

There is a long history of seclusion and segregation that has affected society's view of people with disabilities.

Disability stereotypes add to the difficulty and stigma experienced by people with disabilities. The following myths about people with disabilities have been identified:

• Men and women with disabilities don't need sex.
• Men and women with disabilities are "oversexed."
• Sex must be spontaneous and/or have a set time.
• Men and women with disabilities can't have 'real' sex.
• Men and women with disabilities are not sexually attractive.
• Boys and girls with disabilities don't need sexuality education.
• Men and women with disabilities have more important needs than sex.
• Men and women with disabilities, such as retardation, should not have children and should not be allowed to have children.

People with disability may have concerns about sexual participation after experiencing a disability which can affect quality of life and/or self-esteem. Social workers, occupational therapists (OT), psychologists, and sex therapists, as well as others, are just some of the professionals you can talk to about your unique sexual needs or problems.