Congress Paper Abstract

Sexual Curiosity as Challenging Behaviour: A disenfranchised tradition in the disability sector.

KATHY CROUCH, CLINICAL SERVICES MANAGER/PSYCHOLOGIST, HUNTER SUPPORT SERVICES, AUSTRALIA

The adjective ’disenfranchised’ is commonly paired with the experience of loss and grief: being applied when a significant loss cannot be openly shared, discussed and explored. The term’s application to sexual identity development can be equally observed, particularly in the area of intellectual disability. Recounting the experience of a provider of clinical behaviour intervention to people with intellectual disabilities in Australia, this paper discusses how some behaviours connected to an individual’s exploration of his/her own sexual development and identity are considered ’challenging behaviours’ and referred to behavioural services to be assessed, analysed and ultimately disenfranchised. Describing the approach often adopted when providing clinical behaviour support to people with intellectual disabilities, the author draws parallels between strategies used for grief support and those required for sexual behaviour referrals. Recommendations for supporting the sexual identity development of people with intellectual disabilities are outlined and an emphasis is placed on the dire need for improved communication and interagency between disability professionals and clinical practitioners working in the field of gender diversity. Without the ideas and experiences of people working and living with gender diversity, it is concluded that disability practitioners will experience ongoing difficulty providing tailored support to their clients and have limited success in reducing the phenomenon of disenfranchised sexual identity development in this community.

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