Re/Developing Models for Understanding Sexuality with Disability within Rehabilitation Counselling

Abstract

Human sexuality is constructed via public, interactional and private sexual scripts (Simon & Gagnon, 1986, 1987, 2003). However, normative sexual scripts often exclude or asexualize people with cerebral palsy. Consequently, rehabilitation counselling may rely on conceptual models of sexuality which are derived from typical populations. This paper presents a conceptual model of sexuality with disability relevant to rehabilitation counselling which reflects how people with moderate to severe disability construct their sexuality. Based on a hermeneutic phenomenological framework, seven in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with five men and two women with moderate to severe cerebral palsy from Canada and Australia. Interviews were analyzed using Nvivo 9. Overall, the results and proposed model indicate that while interactional, public and private sexual scripts feature in all participants' descriptions of their sexuality, interactional sexual scripts dominated participant's definition of their sexuality. Rehabilitation counselling frameworks should be cognizant of the primary importance of interactional sexual experiences within their clients' lives.