"Att leva som andra" - om normalisering och den personliga assistentens roll i den funktionshindrades sexliv
Personlig assistansFunktionshinderNormaliseringSexhjälpSocial problems and welfareNational insuranceSociala problemSocial välfärdSocialförsäkringCare and help to handicappedHandikappadeVård och rehabiliteringLaw and Political ScienceSocial Sciences
The purpose of this essay was to investigate the view of what kind of role the personal assistant has in disabled people´s life and sexlife and how conceptions of a "normal" life and "to live like others" can be identified related to this. My research questions was: What does the expression "to live like others" mean to the organisations? What is the view in the organisations of the personal assistant´s role in the client´s life? What is the view in the organisations of the personal assistant´s role in the client´s sexlife? What is the view in the organisations of disabled people´s rights to get assisted help with sex? I chose to do semistructured interviews with different organisations related to disability and assistance and I analysed the interviews with theoretical aspects of social constructivism, the principle of normalization and the theory of SRV (Social Role Valorization), autonomy, individualism and models of action. My main conclusion were that the views of disabled people´s sexuality and the personal assistant´s role in disabled people´s sexlife were widely separate. However, almost all of the organisations were pointing out the autonomy of the individual and the importance of setting the limits. There also appeared to be one thing in common between the client co-operative and the handicap union, namely their view of non-disabled people´s opinions of disabled people and their sexlife.