GROUPWORK ON “LIFE EVENTS AND SEXUALITY”

The twin concepts of normalisation (Wolfensberger, 1972) and care in the community (DHSS, 1981) have been the spurs to increased opportunities being given to people with mental handicaps to learn about sexuality. Too often these opportunities are provided as part of personal hygiene programmes or are based on child-oriented materials. Little thought has yet been given to developing appropriate models of teaching which offer an all-round approach, are geared to adults, take into account people's special learning difficulties, and put sexuality in the context of relationships, growing up, and other life events. This is the report of a multidisciplinary approach to help prepare some adults with mental handicaps, residing in a Chichester mental handicap hospital, for life in the community. Emphasis was placed on looking at sexuality and relationships in the context of life events.