Sexual experiences of women with mild and moderate intellectual disabilities

Based on in-depth interviews and counselling sessions with over 70 women with intellectual disabilities in England, the present paper summarizes the main findingsof that work. Both the research and the practice-based experience suggest that most of the women with intellectual disabilities experienced their sexual activitiesnegatively. This paper offers an analysis of that finding. The reasons include high levels of sexual abuse, the types of sexual activity engaged in, and the lack of control and choice which the women had. The policy and practice implications for intellectual disability services are discussed.