Literature Review on Provision of Appropriate and Accessible ...
Literature Review on Provision of Appropriate and Accessible ...
Literature Review on Provision of Appropriate and Accessible ...
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PAGE 31<br />
1.7 Heterogeneity<br />
People with intellectual disabilities are not a separate, homogeneous<br />
group <strong>of</strong> human beings who think, feel <strong>and</strong> act in a similar fashi<strong>on</strong>. Their<br />
individual likes, dislikes, choices, talents, strengths <strong>and</strong> weaknesses are<br />
varied, as elsewhere in society (Ontario Ministry <strong>of</strong> the Attorney General,<br />
2005). Intellectual <strong>and</strong> adaptive functi<strong>on</strong>ing <strong>of</strong> people with intellectual<br />
disability varies widely, hence, so does their capacity to functi<strong>on</strong><br />
independently (Schalock <strong>and</strong> Luckass<strong>on</strong>, 2004). The variati<strong>on</strong> between<br />
different individuals within the same group cannot be overstated (Murphy<br />
<strong>and</strong> Clare, 2003). For example, the overwhelming majority <strong>of</strong> people with<br />
intellectual disabilities have difficulties that are subtle <strong>and</strong> are not easily<br />
recognised (Emers<strong>on</strong>, Hatt<strong>on</strong>, Felce <strong>and</strong> Murphy, 2000). Only a very small<br />
proporti<strong>on</strong> is unlikely to be able to use verbal language or to carry out<br />
simple tasks <strong>of</strong> everyday living (such as eating, washing <strong>and</strong> dressing)<br />
without support (Hogg <strong>and</strong> Seba, 1986). This heterogeneity must be<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sidered when deciding the relevance <strong>of</strong> general statements about<br />
people with intellectual disabilities.<br />
Support to People with an Intellectual Disability who are<br />
<strong>Accessible</strong><br />
<strong>and</strong> <strong>Appropriate</strong> <strong>of</strong> Provisi<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Review</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Literature</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Experiencing Crisis Pregnancy<br />
1.8 Level <strong>of</strong> disability<br />
Research that has been carried out <strong>on</strong> sexuality <strong>and</strong> women with<br />
intellectual disabilities has for the most part neglected to include<br />
c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> the sexual needs <strong>and</strong> feelings <strong>of</strong> women with more<br />
severe disabilities (Downs & Craft, 1997). Historically, it was c<strong>on</strong>sidered<br />
that the severity <strong>of</strong> such women’s disabilities would override all <strong>and</strong><br />
any aspects <strong>of</strong> their sexuality. According to McCarthy (2002), for most<br />
people with intellectual disabilities, it is the case that a pr<strong>of</strong>ound<br />
intellectual impairment <strong>and</strong> the associated life-l<strong>on</strong>g dependency <strong>on</strong><br />
others means that they are unlikely to be in a positi<strong>on</strong> to engage in<br />
c<strong>on</strong>senting sexual relati<strong>on</strong>ships with other people. Underst<strong>and</strong>ing<br />
sexuality in its wider form, though, including ‘feelings <strong>of</strong> love <strong>and</strong><br />
sexual arousal, underst<strong>and</strong>ing what touch does <strong>and</strong> does not give<br />
pleasure, masturbati<strong>on</strong>, sexual health, self-awareness <strong>and</strong> selfimage,<br />
identity, communicati<strong>on</strong>, pers<strong>on</strong>al development, gender issues<br />
<strong>and</strong> age appropriateness’ are relevant for people with pr<strong>of</strong>ound <strong>and</strong><br />
multiple disabilities as they are for other people (McCarthy, 2002:<br />
92). The research that has been carried out for the most part relates<br />
to the heterosexual experiences <strong>of</strong> mainly white women with mild