Presentation by Dr. George Taleporos at 'Making LOVE, RELATIONSHIPS and SEX Accessible' Disability and Sexuality forum, in Preston on the 18th June, 2013.

1. Sexual Facilitation
Dr George Taleporos

2. The barriers…
• Physical
• Social isolation
• Attitudinal
• Emotional
• Parental
• Learning

3. Taken from website: www.dhs.vic.gov.au
DHS Sexuality Policy
Key points raised in the policy:
People with a disability have the right to explore, express
and act according to their own values and attitudes. Like
other citizens, people with a disability have a wide range of
values and attitudes towards personal relationships, and
these values and attitudes may change over time
Staff must respect the values and attitudes of people with a
disability, and any decisions or actions based on those
regardless if staff disagree or share the same values

4. People with a disability have a right to engage in
relationships of their choice
Staff must ensure all information about the personal
relationships of a person with a disability are kept private
unless the person consents to disclosure, or duty of care or
legal issues require disclosure

5. Sexual Facilitation …
Facilitated sex is defined as assistance in performing a
sexual activity supplied by someone who provides
personal care or assistance to a client.
•SF is not "sex work“
•Providing SF recognises that sexual expression is a
Human Right and an essential aspect of wellbeing.
•SF enables people with disabilities to achieve the same
expression of their sexuality as people without disabilities.

6. Principles Underlying Sexual Facilitation
•People with disabilities have the right to privacy and confidentiality in
relation to sexual activities.
•People with disabilities have the right to sexual expression, partnered,
solo, queer, straight.
•Right to accurate and up-to-date information about sex and sexuality.
•People with disabilities have the right to sex education.
•People with disabilities have the right to access the sex industry.
•People with disabilities have the right to access erotic material.

7. Legal Framework For Sexual Facilitation
Sexual facilitation must take place within the same legal framework as other
disability supports including duty of care, the safeguarding of privacy and
occupational health and safety. Another aspect of the law that needs to be
considered is the Sex Work Act (1994, amended 2010).
This Act controls sex work in Victoria by defining sex work as:
•Taking part with someone in an act of sexual penetration.
•Masturbating someone.
•Letting someone view acts of sexual penetration or masturbation when there is
any form of physical contact between any watcher and any watched or when any
watcher is allowed or encouraged to masturbate.
A person who provides any of the above sexual services must have obtained a
license to do so through the Business Licensing Authority.

8. Types of Support Relevant to Sexual Facilitation
Form of expression Type of support
Masturbation Sex education
Dressing/Undressing
Positioning
Purchasing sex toys and props
Setting up erotic stimuli
Partnered Sex Buying condoms
Dressing/Undressing
Positioning
Clean up
Sex education
Sex Workers Transport
Communication
Research
Accessing sex venues Transport
Communication
Research – accessibility, etc
Meeting partners Communication
Advertising (personal ads, online communication).
Accessing erotic material Making payments
Transport
Using Technology

9. Purpose of the new SF Toolkit
Group
What the SF toolkit will aim to do:
•Matching the appropriate support worker to the person with a
disability.
•Facilitate mutual respectfulness including of individual values and
comfort levels.
•Be clear about that kind of assistance that will be provided and the
boundaries within which this assistance will take place.
•Maximise independence.
•Respect the Law
•Educate and empower staff and service users

10. Group Discussion Questions
Group
Turn to the person next to you and discuss the following:
•What policies are in place at my workplace that support
or block the implementation of SF?
•Is there a place for sexual facilitation (SF) in my work?
•What support / information would I need from my
organisation to provide SF?
•What aspects of SF would I find difficult / problematic?

11. Sexuality and Disability Alliance …
• Sexuality and Disability Alliance (SDA) is a group for and by people
with disabilities, and those with an interest in the area of
sexuality and disability.
SDA aims to promote sexual rights, in addition to portraying
positive and diverse representations regarding the sexuality of
people with disabilities. It also aims to provide a supportive forum
for the discussion of issues related to sexuality and disability.
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