While people with disabilities are one of the largest minorities in the country, they are often understudied and underrepresented in conversations surrounding sexual health.
The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University is trying to address that, launching a new initiative focused on sexual health in under-researched populations with disabilities. The first area of research is a study on condom use and sexual health in the visually impaired community.
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There is a lack of sexual health resources for the blind and low-vision community, especially in regard to safe sex, condom use, and sexual pleasure, noted Jennifer Piatt, a co-founder of the initiative. Piatt is a research fellow at the Kinsey Institute and associate professor in the School of Public Health’s Department of Health and Wellness Design.
“[This study is] just really embracing the university's philosophy of inclusion and making sure everyone has a voice, and everyone has a right to leading the highest quality of life possible,” Piatt continued. “This [study] is really at the core of that.”
The study will continue to collaborate with undergraduate and graduate students, specialists in healthcare, and members of specific disabled populations.
People with disabilities should be entitled to the same sex education as anyone else, said William Yarber, senior scientist at the Kinsey Institute and co-founder of the initiative.
“Persons are sexual individuals. It's a fundamental core component of life. And just because you have a disability, you don't necessarily have to give that up,” Yarber said. “Some maybe don't have the knowledge or know how to find out [about their own sexual health].”
The initiative is a partnership between the Kinsey Institute and the IU School of Public Health-Bloomington. For this first area of research, the IU School of Optometry will also be a partner.
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The team will continue conducting condom use studies in various communities with different disabilities.
