Programme 3: Love is in the air
Reaction to Love is in the air
The challenges and triumphs of forming meaningful relationships form the heart of our panel's responses to the programme.
Open house
Your first home can be a challenge for anyone. But, for disabled people, there can be extra hurdles when it's time for moving on.
Help and support
Need help, advice and support - either as a carer, or making your own way? Follow our tips and links for taking it further.
Chemistry lessons
They don't call it sexual chemistry on a whim, as Margi Clarke discovers when she explores the science of love.
Everyone wants someone to love but finding that special someone can be tough.
Barry is 30, easy going, fun loving and has cerebral palsy. He is articulate and determined, keen to have an intimate relationship after a couple of confidence bruising attempts to find a girlfriend last year.
Jonathan is 25 and has never had a girlfriend. Perhaps a local scheme that attempts to play matchmaker will be the answer.
Kelvin and Elly are planning their wedding in August. They met in their residential home, are in love and with the blessing of their parents are looking ahead to a shared future.
Kes is 25 and has just joined the same dating agency as Jonathan. Her restricted social life and high ambitions for a partner have made it hard for her to meet men. Perhaps the agency will be the answer for her?
Behind the storiesOver one third of the women in the Disabled Women’s Sexuality Project reported that their parents and teachers had not expected them to form relationships, be partners or mothers as adults.
More than half felt that they had no positive role models.
In a recent Disability Now survey, 84% said that they had never been given specific advice about the sexual needs of disabled people and many had been discouraged from the idea of sex altogether.
Just over a quarter said they had been sexually abused or exploited. Nearly half had a current partner and over half had had sex in the last year.
Content last updated: 09/11/2006
