Academic study looks into disabled and sex
U of R master’s student hopes to make people aware of issue
Michelle Apps, a master’s student in social work at the University of Regina, has wrapped up her research about the sexual barriers that people with disabilities have to deal with. After presenting her findings at conferences in Calgary, China and Hawaii, she learned that the issue exists on an international level. Apps talks to the Leader-Post about what she learned during her research and what she hopes it can bring to light for others.
Q After wrapping up your research and interviews, what gave you the most powerful ‘ahha’ moment?
A I think because, in theory, I was ramping up to do the research and I hadn’t met anyone yet, the most powerful moment was putting faces and names to the issues. I had done a literature review and literature search — preliminary research — that really indicated it was a big problem. But, when you actually have participants who are there talking to you about what it’s like, it really just brings it home. You meet those people and you form relationships with them. You see what it’s like for them to even just meet new people, let alone having a relationship with someone. I think too, there are a lot of barriers. But, just the fact that it is physically difficult to get into most bars or clubs, if you want to have a drink and just meet someone. I never thought about that. I was thinking more about the societal and social barriers. That’s just a really basic thing that needs to be fixed.
Q In years to come, where do you see your research in relation to helping to dispel the myth that people with disabilities are asexual beings?
A In my article, there are lots of quotes from participants. So, I’m hoping from that and talking to the media — just getting the conversation out there — that it gets the topic into the forefront of the everyday person’s mind. Otherwise, they wouldn’t really hear about it or think about it. I’ve sent my article in for consideration to an open access journal. So, I’m hoping through that, academically and in the mainstream world, that the research can be read widely and thought about more.
Q I understand you’ve travelled to conferences in China and Hawaii to present your research. What kind of response did you get from attendees?
A It varied from place to place. The conference in Honolulu was on disability and diversity. So, at that venue, the folks were really into it. They were really supportive and agreed that it’s an area that needs to be researched more in public discourse. In that way, I was almost preaching to the choir. But, when I went on a research exchange with the faculty of graduate studies with the U of R to China, the reception was quite different. You can say the word sex and a lot of people don’t like to talk about it. They shy away or won’t make eye contact with you while you’re talking about it. I think sex, on its own, is a very taboo subject. It is here in Canada, but I think even more so in China. Then when you bring that disability piece in, there was even more of a disconnect.
Q You’re currently working on a guidebook about sex and disabilities for Creative Options Regina — an organization supporting people with intellectual disabilities. Ideally, what do you hope to achieve with its release?
A The guidebook is focused at folks with intellectual disabilities, and sex education. Creative Options Regina has a program called Tell it like it is, and this guidebook is designed to accompany the program to teach those with disabilities about sex. We’re putting it online in hopes that other organizations or just people who know others with disabilities can give this sort of education. It’s like sex ed, but it’s in an accessible format. It uses lots of plain language and leaves lots of time for questions.
Q If you could sum up your research into one piece of advice to help people understand the sexual challenges of the disabled, what would it be?
A I would encourage folks without disabilities to think about people with disabilities as people who have the same sexual wants, needs and desires. We should challenge our assumptions about them being people who don’t need sex education, or shouldn’t be interested in a relationship. It’s an important aspect of being a human, and we should understand that.