Crip Youth Get Love n Sex in the United Kingdom

We got a heads up on this article from the ever-terrific Gary Arnold. Definitely worth your reading time.

A pioneering policy is breaking an old taboo by encouraging disabled teenagers to form sexual relationships, with help from carers if necessary

Anushka Asthana, education correspondent
Sunday October 7, 2007
The Observer

For the complete story go to: http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2185322,00.html

Meet Tyran and Leanne - they learnt of love and sex in a school for the disabled

Observer Jan Symes remembered every detail of the scene. A 17-year-old girl with straight brown hair pulled back into a ponytail, heavy purple boots and clothes ill-suited for her age sat opposite her in a small office at Treloar's College, nearAlton in Hampshire.

The teenager had cerebral palsy and was sitting in a wheelchair, using a machine to speak. Shelifted her head, looked across at Jan and asked: 'Do you think it is all right for me, as a very disabled person, to fancy someone?' Symes was horrified. 'Will society think it is disgusting?' the girl went on.

Today the college for physically disabled teenagers over 16 goes public about a ground-breaking 'sexuality policy' that began to take shape that day two years ago, when a young woman shocked her counsellor by asking whether she had the right to fall in love.

A policy was designed that aimed to break down one of society's most enduring taboos: that of disability and sex. And now, for the first time, staff are ready to speak out about the controversy, legal wrangling and heated debates involved in producing a three-page document that fundamentally changed the ethos of the college. Students, it stated, not only had the right to pursue sexual relationships, but would be assisted physically and emotionally by specially trained staff.

Now other colleges for the disabled are looking to make a similar change. Like Treloar's, they have young people whose disabilities are so severe that even to hold hands, cuddle or kiss is impossible without help.

Again, complete story is at: http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2185322,00.html.