The Disabled are Able to Have Sex

In this episode, sex educator and therapist Melanie Ramey addresses the need for legislation, education, and understanding regarding the sexual health needs of people with disabilities. Only very recently in our history have we had legislation protecting the human rights of those with physical or cognitive disabilities. As recently as the 70s, disabled persons were simply institutionalized and forgotten about. Melanie unpacks the history of how the disabled have been treated and highlights how much more education and support is required to understand the sexual needs of those with disabilities.

One poignant story that Melanie relates is that of a woman who had been institutionalized immediately after giving birth to her son, on the advice of a doctor. It was only after the son was in his forties that the state hospital where she lived was about to discharge her into his care. The stigma about mental health was so great that he had not told his wife and children about his mother for fear of judgement. Melanie assisted in helping the family find a suitable care home for the mother and the family integrated her into their lives, but the most shocking discovery was the reason for the mother’s institutionalization: post-partum depression. The truth is that persons with disabilities, be they physical or cognitive, think about and desire sex the same as any other human being. However, persons with disabilities are more likely to be assaulted and their accounts rejected by the police due to difficulties in prosecution. Melanie’s frank discussion on all aspects of sexual health and assault of persons with disabilities highlights the need for better legislation, education, and support from society.

Resources discussed in this episode:

• Episode 2: Don’t Get Sex Education from Aristotle
• Watson Institute: “Sexual Education for Children with Disabilities” by Dr. Rachel Schwartz
• NPR: “The Sexual Assault Epidemic No One Talks About” by Joseph Shapiro

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Contact Melanie Ramey:

• Instagram: @SexuallySpeakingWithMelanie
• Facebook: Sexually Speaking with Melanie Ramey
• Linkedin: Sexually Speaking with Melanie Ramey
  
  

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Canon in D Major performed by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

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