The Rebuttal

SEX

Right, now I have your attention. That word does funny things to people. For many it is still taboo. It is a word that makes many people feel incredibly uncomfortable. The mere mention of this word can turn people’s faces red. Indeed, one of the most popular pieces I have ever written is Being Turned On – Sex and the Deaf! (with hearing people) – You can read it here. It still gets comments nearly 20 years later. It is only rivaled by the piece on Helen Keller, The Helen Keller Myth. You can read that too by clicking on the title. Mind you, if you are a Helen Keller fan, you might want to give it a miss.

But I digress, this article is about sex. Specifically, about the rights of people with a disability to access it. I use sex here broadly. I am actually discussing sex, intimacy, pleasure and the right of people with a disability to access it.

For people with a disability there can be many challenges to experience sex and intimacy. These might be cognitive, sensorineural or physical. Some individuals with a disability require support and adjustments to experience sex and intimacy. Someone with severe physical disabilities, for example, may need human assistance or adapted aids.

The website Fearless Women had this to say about sex and intimacy:

“Sex is on the basic and bottom of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Physiological. It’s next to Breath, Air, Sleep, Food, Water. It’s basically “Survival”. It’s an animal instinct – like the wild kingdom. It’s a visceral need of human mankind.“

Further, the website Pall Aged explains:

“Closeness and intimate relationships are an important human experience which can provide a person with security, support, and connectedness across the lifespan including the period of a life-limiting illness. Intimacy, sexuality and sexual expression are basic human needs which can contribute positively to health and quality of life”

So, let’s be very clear – sex and intimacy are seen as crucial to human survival. Sex and intimacy contribute to self-worth, positive mental health and having a good quality of life.

Naturally, people with a disability are in the same bracket. Sex and intimacy are essential for their sense of worth, well-being and quality of life. They want it and need it. However, it is not always easy for people with a disability to experience sex and intimacy.

For example, neurodivergent individuals may struggle with sex and intimacy. Some like excessive touch whilst others spurn being touched. Textures, temperature changes and the environment can cause difficulties for some. Often people who are neurodivergent need therapy to allow them to enjoy and experience sex and intimacy. The website, Neuro Diverse Couples, notes:

“Neurodiverse couples need to be able to find a therapist who can work with their particular needs. This might include exploring issues around sensory processing or managing anxiety, as well as finding ways for partners to enjoy physical and emotional intimacy in a way that works for both of them.”

Interestingly, people with physical disabilities appear to be well thought of when it comes to aids that can help them experience sex, intimacy and pleasure. There is a great website called Intimate Rider. It sells aids which allow people with physical and mobility issues to enjoy sex and intimacy. It also provides information about how these aids can assist people with different disabilities. But it doesn’t come cheap. An Intimate Rider set costs $715.

Another great site is XES. This site sells aids that allow people with physical disabilities to self-pleasure and experience intimacy. For example, there may be individuals who have coordination issues or limited flexibility. These aids assist. There is an item called a Bon Bon Sex Toy Mount where it will hold the sex toy for ease of use for people that are unable to do so. Another item is a Pulse Solo Essential which assists males with masturbation. These items are not cheap, the former is $189 whilst the latter is $174.

There are also people with a disability that will require assistance to self-pleasure or who want actual human touch. These people will employ sex workers to assist them. This seems to repulse people, but it is absolutely reasonable support. There are specialist sex workers who assist people with a disability. Again, this comes at a cost. There is a great website called sexworker.org.au that provides fantastic information about the work and support that these workers provide to assist people with a disability experience sex and intimacy.

Why am I writing about this? Well recently the NDIS Minister, Bill Shorten, has indicated that the NDIS will ban funding sex work through the NDIS. Showing his extreme ignorance, Minister Shorten had this to say – “We will rule it out, yeah, we will rule it out. It’s just not a sustainable proposition, it doesn’t pass the test, does it?” And what was Minister Shorten’s argument for banning sex work through the NDIS? (All of which encompasses the examples that I have provided here.) Well, this is what he said – “The reality is I’ve got one or two examples I’m aware of that it’s ever happened, ever. So, it’s not what’s happening in most of the scheme.”

Confused? Me too. Apparently, because the demand for sex work under the NDIS is so low, it’s not needed. So, what happens? A support that is not in high demand, that isn’t costing the Scheme all that much and for some is an essential support will be removed. Go figure.

We are talking here, according to Mr River Night on Linkedin, “…  just over 100 of 600 000 of 4.4 Million Aussies living with disability.” The 600 000 are those who are accessing the NDIS. So, 100 of 600 000 people who are needing access to this essential support will now lose that support. And, no future participant of the NDIS will ever again be able to access it. Yet, Minister Shorten is saying that such support is not sustainable and that it doesn’t pass the test – You can see him saying so here:

So that’s it. An essential human need and right is going to be denied to people with a disability because Minister Shorten thinks it doesn’t pass the test. And we thought Stuart Robert and Linda Reynolds were bad. Let me tell you – It does pass the test. It passes it in every shape and form – It is a cost of disability and an essential human need. It is that simple.

And do you know what? It is well known that sex abuse of people with a disability is high. By funding support such as I have just described, it allows people with a disability to experience sex and intimacy in a safe environment. This means they are less at risk of sexual predators.

Re-think this Minister Shorten, you are way out of touch!

With thanks to Anytime Auslan who provided their staff interpreter, free of charge to translate this very important article!