Relationships of people with learning disabilities in Ireland

Accessible summary The inclusive research network is a group of researchers with learning disabilities, their supporters and paid professional researchers who do research about things important to people with learning disabilities in Ireland. In this research, we asked people with learning disabilities what they thought about relationships and supports. We asked people in focus groups: (i) What makes a good friend?, (ii) What do you think about having a boyfriend or a girlfriend?, and (iii) What supports do you need to have friends, a boyfriend or a girlfriend? Ninetyseven people (52 women and 45 men) took part in 16 focus groups. We found that people talked about: Wanting to have a boyfriend or a girlfriend. Being embarrassed talking about it. Needing more support from family and staff to keep relationships and deal with them. Wanting more transport to get around at night and to visit people. Wanting a house of their own to invite friends, boyfriends and girlfriends. We talk about the importance of these findings. We also talk about how we have used these findings to advocate for changing the laws in Ireland. Summary This study explored the perspectives of people with learning disabilities on relationships and supports in the Republic of Ireland. A national research network consisting of 21 researchers with learning disabilities, 12 supporters, and 7 university researchers conducted the study. Researchers with learning disabilities and their supporters ran 16 focus groups with peers with learning disabilities. A total of 97 adults with learning disabilities from across the country took part in the focus groups. Findings suggest that people with learning disabilities have a diversity of experiences and views on relationships and support needed to keep them. People with learning disabilities taking part in the focus groups identified that they need more support from friends, family, and services staff to develop new relationships and keep their existing ones. This support includes both emotional and systematic changes such as accessible transport, own housing, and changed laws. The article discusses how the research team used the findings to advocate for a change in the laws concerning sexuality and learning disability in the Republic of Ireland.