Grace Kelly
My PhD research aims to explore the sexual and relationship needs, experiences and rights of people with intellectual disabilities in Ireland. The study was strongly influenced by emancipatory research principles, where the views of people with disabilities are central to the research process and the research aims to contribute to the empowerment of disabled people. As part of the study methodology, repeat focus groups with fifteen people with intellectual disabilities from an Irish disability service were facilitated over a 2 month period, with participants talking about their attitudes, experiences and aspirations around relationships and sexuality. Focus groups with parents, frontline staff and management within the same disability service were also carried out to explore what their experiences and attitudes were, and what type of support, if any, they might require in this area. Finally, interviews with a series of national and international experts who are seeking to promote change in this area of people with intellectual disabilities’ lives were carried out. These interviews were done with a view to identifying where Ireland is currently positioned with regard to supporting people with intellectual disabilities around relationships and sexuality, and exploring how we can move forward. Results of this PhD will be fed back to the disability services where the focus groups were carried out, and will inform the development of a relationship and sexuality policy in the service.
As well as working on my PhD, I am also secretary of the Connect People Network, an independent, voluntary, charity organisation which is led by people with extra support needs, and which promotes their rights around friendships, relationships and sexuality. The aims of CPN are to support:
• social opportunities,
• choice in relationships,
• access to sex education, and
• access to sexual health services.
For further information on this charity, see: www.connectpeoplenetwork.com
Supervisors: Dr Maire Leane
As well as working on my PhD, I am also secretary of the Connect People Network, an independent, voluntary, charity organisation which is led by people with extra support needs, and which promotes their rights around friendships, relationships and sexuality. The aims of CPN are to support:
• social opportunities,
• choice in relationships,
• access to sex education, and
• access to sexual health services.
For further information on this charity, see: www.connectpeoplenetwork.com
Supervisors: Dr Maire Leane
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Papers by Grace Kelly
with intellectual disabilities think about these issues and what they would like to see happen in this area of their lives. This paper presents a preliminary analysis of the first author’s PhD research into the views and experiences of a small group of Irish people with intellectual disabilities in the area of sexuality and relationships. Initial findings suggest that people with intellectual disabilities are getting insufficient sex
education and that changes are needed at a disabilities service level to ensure that people with intellectual disabilities can express their sexuality in an open and supportive climate. At a government level, changes will need to be made to Irish legislation concerning the sexuality of vulnerable adults so that this country is How to translate the right of people with intellectual disabilities to a full sexual and intimate life into proactive support remains a challenge for disabilities services in
Ireland. At a government level, changes will need to be made to Irish legislation concerning the sexuality of vulnerable adults so that this country is meeting its obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006). The authors argue that people with intellectual disabilities’ views must come first in all debates concerning their sexuality.
• This paper talks about what a group of people with intellectual disabilities in Ireland had to say about their experiences of relationships and sexuality, and the type of support they might like in this area of their lives.
• Many people did not get enough information about sexuality. There were lots of things they did not understand properly and they wanted more information.
• Many people wanted to have boyfriend and girlfriend relationships, but relationships were not allowed in their service. Some people had to have relationships in secret.
• In Ireland it is against the law to have a sexual relationship with a person who cannot live without support, or protect themselves from abuse, unless you are married.
• The law needs to be changed because some people with intellectual disabilities who need support in their lives are still capable of having sexual relationships and protecting themselves from abuse.
• People with intellectual disabilities need better sexual information and need support to have their voices heard by government.
with intellectual disabilities think about these issues and what they would like to see happen in this area of their lives. This paper presents a preliminary analysis of the first author’s PhD research into the views and experiences of a small group of Irish people with intellectual disabilities in the area of sexuality and relationships. Initial findings suggest that people with intellectual disabilities are getting insufficient sex
education and that changes are needed at a disabilities service level to ensure that people with intellectual disabilities can express their sexuality in an open and supportive climate. At a government level, changes will need to be made to Irish legislation concerning the sexuality of vulnerable adults so that this country is How to translate the right of people with intellectual disabilities to a full sexual and intimate life into proactive support remains a challenge for disabilities services in
Ireland. At a government level, changes will need to be made to Irish legislation concerning the sexuality of vulnerable adults so that this country is meeting its obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006). The authors argue that people with intellectual disabilities’ views must come first in all debates concerning their sexuality.
• This paper talks about what a group of people with intellectual disabilities in Ireland had to say about their experiences of relationships and sexuality, and the type of support they might like in this area of their lives.
• Many people did not get enough information about sexuality. There were lots of things they did not understand properly and they wanted more information.
• Many people wanted to have boyfriend and girlfriend relationships, but relationships were not allowed in their service. Some people had to have relationships in secret.
• In Ireland it is against the law to have a sexual relationship with a person who cannot live without support, or protect themselves from abuse, unless you are married.
• The law needs to be changed because some people with intellectual disabilities who need support in their lives are still capable of having sexual relationships and protecting themselves from abuse.
• People with intellectual disabilities need better sexual information and need support to have their voices heard by government.