Literature Review on Provision of Appropriate and Accessible ...

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McCarthy (1999: 44) notes that two major ideology changes occurred
over the past few decades, which have transformed services provided for
people with learning disabilities. These are the adoption of the principle
of normalisation, which has had a huge impact on services, and the
growth of the self-advocacy movement.
Support to People with an Intellectual Disability who are
Accessible
and Appropriate of Provision on <strong>Review</strong> <strong>Literature</strong>
Experiencing Crisis Pregnancy
While many positive changes have occurred, women with intellectual
disabilities still face conflicting stereotypes, which portray them as either
asexual, childlike and dependent or oversexed, undiscriminating and
‘easy’ (Tilley, 1998; Williams & Nind, 1999). Dotson et al. (2003) argue
that these stereotypes are harmful because they lead either to the belief
that the sexual expression of a woman with an intellectual disability can
be ignored or that it must be suppressed.
Women with intellectual disability have the same sexual needs, rights
and responsibilities as other women (McCarron and Kathryn Pekala
Service, 2002). According to Eastgate (2008), community attitudes make
it especially difficult for women with intellectual disability to achieve
appropriate sexual expression. Sulpizi (1996) asserts that denying women
with intellectual disability access to information regarding their sexuality
because of their dependence on others denies them a basic human right.
Eastgate (2008) notes it has been observed that for most of the issues
relating to women’s sexual health needs, including contraception, safe
sexual practices, pregnancy and parenting, appropriate education and
adequate social support can significantly improve their situation.
Empirical research on attitudes towards intellectual disability and
perceived barriers to services revealed the following issues:
• Murray & Minnes (1994), writing in the Canadian context, argue
that in general attitudes are becoming less conservative, that is, a
wider range of sexual behaviours are now regarded as acceptable
than was previously the case.
• Heyman & Huckle’s (1995) research in the UK has demonstrated
that informal carers have felt that adults with intellectual
disability were not interested in sexual relationships, not able
to understand them, not capable of acting responsibly, at risk of
exploitation or a danger to other people.