People with developmental disabilities can develop healthy sexual relationships if they live in healthy systems. In this article we discuss the attributes of healthy human service systems and the importance of strong sexual self-advocacy by people with disabilities. We outline how negative attitudes can have traumatizing effects on people with developmental disabilities. We take the position that by developing positive attitudes in staff, parents, and people with disabilities regarding both sexuality and disability, a new era of acceptance and healthy sexual development can begin.
BaerD. M. (1990). Good rules, bad rules, the rulers and the ruled. Mental Retardation, 28, 101–103.
2.
BrownG. T.CarneyP.CortisJ. M.MetzL. L.PetrieA. M. (1994). Human sexuality handbook: Guiding people toward positive expressions of sexuality. Springfield, MA: The Association for Community Living.
3.
Canadian AIDS Society. (1996). Homophobia, heterosexism and AIDS, Ottawa, ON: Canadian AIDS Society.
4.
CharletonJ. I. (1998). Nothing about us without us: Disability, oppression and empowerment. Los Angeles, CA: University of California Press.
5.
Clarity Collective. (1992). Taught not caught: Self esteem in sex education. Fitzrow, Australia.
6.
DayK. (1994). Mentally handicapped sex offenders. British Journal of Psychiatry, 16, 630–639.
7.
HainesS. (1999). The survivor's guide to sex: How to have an empowered sex life after child sexual abuse. San Francisco, CA: Clies Press.
8.
HingsburgerD. (1991). I witness: History and a person with a developmental disability. Mountville, PA: Vida Publishing.
9.
HingsburgerD. (1992a). Erotophobic behavior in people with developmental disabilities. The Habilitative Mental Healthcare Newsletter, 11, 31–34.
10.
HingsburgerD. (1992b). Cautions and considerations for providing sex education for people with developmental disabilities who live within group homes. Journal on Developmental Disabilities, 1, 42–47.
11.
HingsburgerD. (1995). Just say know: Understanding and reducing the risk of sexual victimization of people with developmental disabilities. Eastman, QC: Diverse City Press.
12.
HingsburgerD. (1999). Cutting the strings: Suggestions for self advocacy. Community Living News, 1(17), 10–14.
13.
HingsburgerD. (2000). Power tools: Thoughts about power and control in service to people with disabilities. Eastman, QC: Diverse City Press.
14.
HingsburgerD.ChaplinT.HirstwoodK.ToughS.NethercottA.Roberts-SpenceD. (1999). Intervening with sexually problematic behaviour in community environments. In ScottiJ. R.MeyerL. H. (Eds.), Behavioral intervention: Principles, models and practices (pp. 213–236). Baltimore, MD: Brookes.
15.
HingsburgerD.GriffithsD.QuinseyV. (1991). Detecting counterfeit deviance: Differentiating sexual deviance from sexual inappropriateness. The Habilitative Mental Healthcare Newsletter, 10, 51–54.
16.
HingsburgerD.HarberM. (1998). The ethics of touch. Eastman QC: Diverse City Press.
17.
HingsburgerD.LudwigS. (1993). Sexual self advocacy for people with developmental disabilities. East York, ON: SIECCAN.
18.
HingsburgerD.ToughS. (1993). Treating erotophobic behaviour in people with developmental disabilities: A case history and therapeutic model. The Habilitative Mental Healthcare Newsletter, 12, 1–4.
19.
HingsburgerD.ToughS. (1998). Commentary: Hey!! Watch your mouth!The National Association on Developmental Disabilities Bulletin, 1, 95–97.
20.
HingsburgerD.ToughS.Van NoortD. Snell (2000). But I thought … Sexuality and teens with developmental disabilities. TASH Newsletter, 26(5), 8–11.
21.
KemptonW. (1983). Socialization and sexuality: A comprehensive training guide for professionals helping people with disabilities that hinder learning. Haverford, PA: Kempton.
22.
KemptonW.KahnE. (1991). Sexuality and people with intellectual disabilities: A historical perspective. Sexuality and Disability, 9, 93–110.
23.
Kendall-TackettK. A.Meyer-WilliamsL.FinkelhorD. (1993). Impact of sexual abuse on children: A review and synthesis of recent empirical studies. Psychological Bulletin, 113, 164–180.
24.
KennedyM. (1989). Child abuse—Disabled children suffer too. Childright, 60, 18–20.
25.
LintonS. (1998). Claiming disability: Knowledge and identity. New York: New York University Press.
26.
MansellS.SobseyD. (2001). Counselling people with developmental disabilities who have been sexually abused. Kingston, NY: National Association for the Dually Diagnosed.
27.
MilbergA. (2001). Letter to a baby who was thrown from a bridge. In SoucieM.MilbergA.HingsburgerD. (Eds.), Difference: A little book about diversity (pp. 19–21). Eastman, QC: Diverse City Press.
28.
MontogmeryC. (2001). What do you want to be?. In SobseyD.MontogmeryC.WilkinsD.HingsburgerD. (Eds.), Four sight: The disability community contemplates fate, future and fear (pp. 5–11). Eastman, QC: Diverse City Press.
29.
MorrisJ. (1991). Pride against prejudice: Transforming attitudes towards disability. Pittsburgh: New Society Press.
30.
MulickJ. A.MeinholdP. M. (1992). Analyzing the impact of regulations on residential ecology. Mental Retardation, 30, 151–161.
31.
PendlerB.HingsburgerD. (1990). Sexuality: Dealing with parents. The Habilitative Mental Healthcare Newsletter, 9, 29–34.
32.
PopeK. S. (1988). How clients are harmed by sexual contact with mental health professionals: The syndrome and its prevalence. Journal of Counseling and Development, 67, 222–226.
33.
The Regional Residential Services Society & the Nova Scotia Department of Health Community Promotion Fund. (1997). Relationships and sexuality: A policy to guide residential care providers of people with intellectual disabilities. Dartmouth, NS: Regional Residential Services Society.
34.
RoweW. S.SavageS. (1987). Sexuality and the developmentally handicapped: A guidebook for health care professionals. Queenston, ON: Edwin Mellen Press.
35.
SchwierK. M.HingsburgerD. (2000). Sexuality and your sons and daughters with intellectual disabilities. Baltimore, MD: Brookes.
36.
ShapiroJ. P. (1993). No Pity. New York: Times Books.
37.
SobseyD. (1995). Violence and abuse in the lives of people with disabilities: An end of silent acceptance?Baltimore, MD: Brookes.
38.
SoderM. (1990). Prejudice or ambivalence? Attitudes toward people with disabilities. Disability, Handicap & Society, 5, 227–241.
39.
Ufford-DickersonM. (1982). New challenges for parents of the mentally retarded. The Exceptional Child, 29, 5–12.
40.
WalkerN.McCabeS. (1973). Crime and Insanity in England, (Vol. 2). Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
41.
WishJ. R.McCombsK. F.EdmonsonB. (1980). The socio-sexual knowledge and attitude test. Wood Dale, IL: Stoelting Company.
42.
WolfeP. S.BlanchettW. J. (2000). Moving beyond denial, suppression and fear to embracing the sexuality of people with disabilities. TASH Newsletter, 26(5), 5–7.
43.
WoodillG. (1992). Controlling the sexuality of developmentally disabled persons: Historical perspectives. Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 1, 1–14.
