Abstract
Issues relating to intellectual disability regarding sex, childrearing and intimacy are considered contentious at the best of times. This is often couched in discourses of danger, risk and protection. But it is clear that intellectually disabled people have been subject to physical and sexual abuse, excluded and marginalised from relationships and sex education, struggled with their own health and wellbeing and represented as ‘less than human’ and therefore lacking capacity to make decisions about their own sexuality. In addition, all of the above have an impact upon everyday life, family members and carers. The lack of sexual and physical autonomy is further compounded in social discourse as in the case where a British mother defended her right, before the courts, to have her young disabled daughters’ womb removed. Conversely, attention has also been drawn to young disabled people and their sexual activity or sexuality in a positive and proactive light. The Family Planning Association (fpa) in the UK dedicated their Sexual Health Week in August 2008 to campaign for the rights of disabled people to have sex and relationships. With these tensions and dilemmas in mind it makes sense to dedicate a special issue to intellectual disability.
If you would like to contribute an original article based on empirical, theoretical or policy research in the areas of intellectual disability regarding: sexuality and rights, intimacy, sexual health, sex and education, sex work, abuse/violence, same sex relationships, gender, dating, mothering and so on please send a 300 word abstract to me with a working title