Celebrating International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Day 9 of the 16 Days of Activism is International Day of Persons with Disabilities, a day honoring and celebrating people living with disabilities (PLWD). Day 9 is focusing on both the joy and achievements of PWD as well as the work that still needs to be done in terms of accessibility, education, and destigmatization.
This year, the specific theme for International Day of Persons with Disabilities is “Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress.” Working on accessibility and inclusion of PLWD helps us to grow as a society, understanding the breadth of human perspectives and experiences.
Disability and Sexuality: The Harms of Stigma
Including PWD in discussions on sexuality and reproductive rights is integral to the advancement of social progress. All people deserve to be included in SRHR work, advocacy, and education. As Share-Net focuses on SRHR work, discussing access to sexuality and sexual health information for PLWD is a core part of the work we do.
PLWD face plenty of stigma. When it comes to sexuality and sexual health, PLWD are often infantilized and believed to be absent of any kind of sexuality, from sexual desire to identity to the ability to have relationships. PLWD are underrepresented in sexual education and in popular media surrounding sexuality and relationships. This stigma prevents people with disabilities from exploring and accessing their sexuality, “[PLWD] are unable to express their sexuality fully not so much because of a disability but because of the assumption that they are not sexual. Other barriers include restrictions on their mobility, negative societal attitudes and the lack of educational, entertainment, social and health services and rights that other people have,” (Sexuality and Disability Mythbusting).
TFGVB and Disability
Women with disabilities are at high risk of facing gender-based violence online. Their intersecting identities and lack of autonomy make them more susceptible to cyberbullying, harassment, and exploitation. The lack of inclusion of PLWD in education perpetuates harm and the risk of experiencing violence both online and in person; “They are under-represented in education and employment and are at heightened risk of violence and abuse – particularly forced sterilization, domestic violence and sexual exploitation”, said Heba Hagrass, the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Disability and Sexuality: Adapting for Pleasure
In reality, sex and relationships are desired by people with disabilities. PLWD have desires and passions and deserve access to sexual connections and healthy relationships with their own bodies. In sex education and sexuality resources, it is important to include adaptations that can be made to traditional sex to allow more people to engage in sexual relationships in a way that is safe and comfortable for their bodies.
Some advice and adaptations:
Attached is a link to an article listing the various ways to experience pleasure alone.
Attached is a link to an article listing the various ways to experience pleasure with a partner.
Share-Net’s Work On Disability SRHR
This past year, Share-Net hubs across Jordan, Burkina Faso, and Burundi, along with International Community of Practice (iCoP), developed infographics to display knowledge and community insights, enabling broader outreach and understanding of the SRHR needs of the PLWD community. Their work focused on youth with disabilities, specifically the lack of access youth with disabilities have to SRHR information and care. The goal of the project was to source existing information and data on the SRHR needs of youth with disabilities and amplify their voices through accessible and actionable knowledge products.
Disability Friendly Toys and Resources
Below is a list of all kinds of resources: Sex toys and furniture, scholars, advocates, organizations, and comprehensive guides!
Toys and furniture:
Advocates, scholars, and guides:
References
