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Sexuality is an aspect of health and development that is often overlooked among people with physical disabilities, particularly adolescents. Studies have demonstrated that youth with physical disabilities show considerably lower levels of sexual knowledge and receive inadequate sex education compared to their peers without such disabilities. The data for this paper are part of a qualitative study that explored the experiences, barriers and challenges associated with sex education for youth with physical disabilities from the perspectives of young people themselves, their parents and the health professionals who work with them. The findings from this study highlight the tendency for parents, educators and health professionals to place the responsibility of delivering sex education to young people with physical disabilities on someone else who they believe to be more appropriately qualified to handle these types of situations. As a result, the findings illustrate that adolescents with physical disabilities do not always receive the necessary combination of comprehensive sex education within school environments, specialized information from health professionals, and informal sex education from family and peers that they require in order to gain the knowledge and skills needed to understand their own sexual capabilities and make informed decisions about their sexual health and intimate relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parenting is a rewarding challenge to be experienced by any adult, regardless of ability. This small scale qualitative study seeks to understand the experiences of parents with spinal cord injury (SCI) and their use of aids and adaptations in caring for their young children. Twelve parents with SCI were interviewed at either Toronto Rehabilitation Institute in Toronto, or in their homes. Data were analyzed using a grounded theory thematic approach. Themes identified included: (1) Psychosocial Aspect of Parenting, (2) Social Attitudes, (3) Division of Labour, (4) Physical Aspect of Parenting, and (5) Resources and Services. These themes enabled the development of an emerging model for managing childcare. Findings led to recommendations for parents with SCI, healthcare providers, and manufacturers of assistive technology to provide strategies for managing child care, improve access and availability of resources, services, and products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]