>From: Andrea Hollomotz <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Information needed: Self-advocacy for sexual rights
>Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2006 12:59:40 +0100
>
>Hi everyone,
>
>Does anyone know of any self-advocacy groups of people with learning
>difficulties who are advocating for sexual rights (e.g. rights to
>information, to make decisions about family planning, to have
>relationships)?
>
>My council is currently attempting to produce a “Relationship policy” for
>people with learning difficulties through a consultation process with local
>people. They are employing a researcher for five months, who unfortunately
>has no prior experience within the field of disability rights. I am a bit
>sceptical of the whole consultation-thing within such a short space of
>time. People to be questioned include professionals, informal “carers” …
>and yes, even disabled people. I fear that, because we have no vocal
>self-advocacy group locally, those who aim to control and over-protect
>people with learning difficulties will be shouting the loudest. After all,
>a policy which prohibits sexual contact for the people they “care” for will
>make their job a lot easier. I have therefore suggested that we should get
>in touch with organizations of people with learning difficulties.
>
>Local “Relationship Policies”, if done correctly, have great potential. My
>favourite is “Making Choices, Keeping safe” (NHS Lothian) available online
>at:
>
>http://www.mcks.scot.nhs.uk/
>
>“Relationship policies” should force service providers, such as schools,
>family planning centres, residential establishments etc. to acknowledge
>that people with learning difficulties have a right to sexual
>relationships. “Relationship policies” should commit service providers to
>facilitating opportunities for people with learning difficulties to
>establish safe relationships (such as information on sexuality, social
>contacts). This should happen anyway, but some will only act if they are
>made to act.
>If done wrongly, “relationship policies” are just another mechanism of
>control, to justify segregation and over-protection. (Mencap for example
>suggested a national-wide "test of capacity to consent to sexual
>relationships", which would have relied on intellectual functioning and
>which would have singled out those deemed to have no "capacity" and
>justified their over-protection.)This is why it is vital that our
>researcher speaks to the right people. Please let me know if you have any
>suggestions about whom we might approach or if you can suggest any relevant
>literature on the subject.
>
>Thanks for your help, Andrea
>
>
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