Sex and disability: A selected bibliography.

Abstract

Preface 3. Those areas which have generated the greatest attention include sexual problems associated with spinal cord injury, cardiac conditions, and age. Other disabling conditions such as visual impairments, hypertension, cystic fibrosis, trauma (particularly closed head injuries), burns, arthritic and orthopedic disabilities, amputation, and the entire area of pediatric sexuality, are seriously underrepresented in the literature.4. Publications focusing on practical procedures in the therapeutic care and management of sexual dysfunction among the physically disabled are not available in large numbers. Over the past four years, however, the discussion of therapeutic management has begun to receive added emphasis.5. A limited number of approaches to the psychosocial treatment of sexual dysfunction currently are available. Although there appears to be a growing awareness of the significance and importance of sexual education and counseling in the rehabilitation process, few institutions have implemented identifiable programs to deal with this facet of the patient's rehabilitation.6. There exists a need for sex education programs to be evaluated in terms of effectiveness vis a vis specific disability, sex, age, length of time disabled, marital status, and other variables.7. There is an urgent need, as pointed out by a number of investigators, for the public to be made aware of the sexual needs and potential of the physically disabled.8. There is a necessity to provide education regarding sexual prognosis and treatment of the physically disabled to professionals and paraprofessionals working with such clients. 9. A significant gap in the literature exists in the area of materials prepared specifically for the nonprofessional. Pamphlets written for the lay reader such as Sex and Your Heart (Brenton, 1968), Sex, Courtship and the Single Ostomate (Bender, 1972), Marriage, Sex and Arthritis (The Arthritis and Rheumatism Council, 1972) and Sex and the Spinal Cord Injured: Some Questions and Answers (Eisenberg and Rustad, 1975) for the most part have not been produced for persons with other types of disabilities.10. Very little has been published which provides recommendations as to how the individual with a physical disability can acquire the social skills necessary to establish relationships that might include sexual activities.11. One journal is available, Sexuality and Disability (Human Sciences Press), that focuses exclusively on the sexuality of the disabled. Perhaps reflective of the recent heightening of attention paid to this subject by the health care community, the journal was first published in March, 1978.

Psychological adjustment to spinal cord injury: A literature review, 1950–1977.

“…Although this review does not attempt to cover sexuality as a factor in adjustment, one cannot ignore the relationship, it is too pervasive in the literature. Teal and Athelstan (1975) and Eisenberg (1978) provide reviews of the broad range of issues relating sexuality and adjustment to SCI. Weber and Wessman (1971) cover specifically the issues faced by a male following SCI which Talbot (1971) separated into three distinct categories; psychic, gonadal, and neuromuscular.…”

The sexual revolution: Has it embraced the disabled co-ed?

“…Campus values strongly support premarital sexual behaviors. Recent writings on sexual development in disabled persons (Eisenberg, 1978) suggest that disabled people, too, are now seen to be sexual beings. On the other hand, is it likely that there is a belief in the U.S. as well as in Sweden that "disabled people .…”