Exploring how support workers understand their role in supporting adults with intellectual disabilities to access the Internet for intimate relationships.

Background: Some adults with intellectual disabilities need support to access the Internet. This study explores how support workers understand their role in facilitating Internet access for intimate relationships. Method: Eight support workers in the West Midlands of the UK were interviewed face‐to‐face, using semi‐structured interviews and a thematic analysis was used to interpret the data. Results: Three main themes emerged; social and organizational dilemmas (including sub‐themes of; role and moral positioning, expectations of support, and protected and reflective space), power and position and policy dilemmas. Conclusion: Support workers said that adults with intellectual disabilities should have access to the Internet for intimate relationships. There was a range of views on whether it was their job to support this. A lack of training in Internet use was highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]