Sexual Abuse in Adults with Learning Disabilities

Abstract

The recognition that people with learning disabilities are particularly vulnerable to sexual abuse is not new. However, only recently has it received much attention. The increased awareness of child sexual abuse within the general population, alongside the recognition that people with learning disabilities have sexual needs and the right to express their sexuality, has pushed the issue of sexual abuse to the forefront.This is the first of two articles which address the issue of sexual abuse in adults with learning disabilities. It reviews current research literature on sexual abuse and focuses on those issues of particular relevance to adults with learning disabilities. The application of these findings to clinical investigations of sexual abuse will be discussed in the second article.