Women with Learning Disabilities – experiencing their sexuality in a healthy way

This paper outlines some of the factors which are important in helping or hindering women with learning disabilities to experience their sexuality in a positive and healthy way. Based on direct experience, the paper presents the factors which must be present for women with learning disabilities to enjoy their sexuality: making choices, giving consent, receiving information, experiencing mutuality, experiencing pleasure, having self?esteem and having recourse to the law if abused. Conversely, the factors which need to be absent are coercion, oppression, guilt and shame, and unwanted physical consequences. The paper emphasises how important it is that women with learning disabilities and their supporters understand these factors.