Appendix 4 - Review 2008/9

How this policy was reviewed:

Lots of people were asked what they thought about this policy and their responses have helped us to change bits, add bits and take some bits away.

Who did we ask for comments?
The learning disability locality representatives (reps) completed a questionnaire and spoke to us about what they thought about the training they had received so far.

We took the results of the questionnaire and what the reps said to a meeting of carers and staff. Some parents were concerned that their son/daughter would be taught things that was beyond their level of understanding and would get confused. Some people didn’t think people with a learning disability should learn about or be able to have intimate sexual relationships. Other parents were keen for their sons/daughters to be taught to be safe and to be enabled to have safe relationships. The policy then went out for further consultation to parent/carers of people who went to day centres.

We took all of this information back to the locality groups. Not everyone at the locality groups wanted to go on a course or to get information about sexuality and relationships but they all did think that it was important that everyone, regardless of their disability, should have the choice of whether they could get more information and training if they wanted it. The groups were really vocal about this issue and were keen to get involved and have their voices heard.

Notes from the consultation with Locality Group representatives on the Intimate Personal Relationship and Sexuality Policy for People with a Learning Disability
November 2008
Comments on the easy read version of the policy

• Have the pictures in colour
• Use real photographs – the picture of contraceptives were particularly confusing
• Cartoons are difficult to understand – photos would be better
• Bigger writing
• Too much information on 1 page – spread it out more
• Want a leaflet or something like the prevention of abuse booklet
• Use yellow paper for people with visual impairments
• Use shorter words
• Change the picture of the naked people, give them clothes

 
General Comments

Training

• ‘The training I had was really good. I would like to learn more.’
• I’d like to learn more and talk about this in single sex groups
• ‘The training course on this is very good. I think all people with a learning disability should have a course about this. I’ve learnt when to say ‘yes’ and ‘no’. I feel a lot safer now’
• ‘All people with a learning disability should be able to go on a training course, no more than 2 hours long, so people don’t lose their concentration’
• ‘I was very annoyed when they stopped my training (on intimate personal relationships and sex). Other people in other areas could still go on and finish it but we couldn’t’

Personal experiences

• ‘People with a learning disability are told not to have a relationship’
• ‘I’ve been going out with my girlfriend for 4.5 years’
• ‘ I was married for 13 years’
• ‘The day centre won’t let us kiss but it’s up to us if we want to kiss. I don’t know why this is’
• ‘I was given the pill but I didn’t really understand it’
• ‘This doesn’t really apply to people my age (early 40s)’

Getting Information

• ‘People with LD need more information about what safe sex is’
• ‘No one has talked about this to me since I left school’
• ‘We haven’t talked about this at the day centre’
•  All people have a right to know about this (sex)’
• ‘Tell people the truth. They (people with a learning disability) may need more help but they still should be able to do it (have a relationship) if they want to’
• Not everyone wants to know about this (sex and relationships) but they should have the choice to go on training or not’
• I think this (policy) is really good and people need to know about this to be safe’

Day centres

• ‘Day centre staff stop you having relationships. They say, have it in your own time, staff can’t cope with relationships like that’
• ‘Staff don’t hug you anymore they are not allowed to get close. They say if you get close you might hurt someone. They are too strict.’