Answered Questions is a monthly resource for the Spanish language Disability Community that fills an information need. This month’s question is I am a person with a disability who identifies as queer. I want to learn more about how the intersectionality of these two identities may affect our healthcare and be able to share what I learn with others. Where may I find research, information, and resources on this topic? This edition of Answered Questions includes items that share the experiences of people with disabilities and sexual and gender minority status in healthcare; health disparities among sexual and gender minorities with autism spectrum disorder; a study that looked at how transgender people with disabilities may have more unmet healthcare needs than their cisgender peers; trends in issues relating to sexuality and gender identity for people with disabilities; and more. More about Answered Questions.
From the NARIC Collection:
The article, Experiences of patients with disabilities and sexual and gender minority status during healthcare interactions (in English) from the NIDILRR-funded projects Collaborative on Health Reform and Independent Living (in English) and Using the National Survey on Health and Disability Panel to Document the COVID-19 Pandemic Experiences of Working-Age Americans with Disabilities (in English), discusses a study that examined the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other* (LGBTQ+) people with disabilities related to their gender identity, sexuality, and disability when interacting with healthcare professionals. Qualitative analyses revealed themes centered around experiences of negative interactions with healthcare providers, including fear, distrust, and avoidance of care; dismissal or denial of treatment, and assault or aggressive activity; although some reported no problems or need to discuss their LGBTQ+ and disabilities identities.
The article, Health disparities among sexual and gender minorities with autism spectrum disorder (in English), also from the NIDILRR-funded project Collaborative on Health Reform and Independent Living (in English), discusses a study that explored the health and healthcare experiences of people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who identify as LGBTQ+. The LGBTQ+ respondents had a significantly higher rates of mental illness, poor physical health days per month, and smoking compared to straight, cisgender respondents with ASD. The LGBTQ+ respondents also reported much higher rates of unmet healthcare needs, inadequate insurance provider networks, and rates of being refused services by a medical provider.
Research In Focus:
People living with disabilities who are also transgender may face the compounding effects of the challenges in meeting their healthcare needs. The article, Even with Health Insurance, Transgender People with Disabilities May Have More Unmet Healthcare Needs than Their Cisgender Peers, discusses a study that looked at how the types and rates of disabilities differ between transgender and cisgender people with disabilities, and if there are differences in unmet needs based on gender identity in people with disabilities. The authors noted that transgender participants were three times more likely to report at least one unmet healthcare need compared to the cisgender participants, and they suggest that these unmet needs may reflect the compounding effect of identifying as transgender and having a disability. This article is also available in English.
Research Trends:
The article, Belonging and Community: Trends in Issues Relating to Sexuality and Gender Identity for People with Disabilities, discusses the significant overlap of LGBTQ+ identity and disability, how studies discuss the experiences of adults and youth with disabilities from the perspectives of caregivers and service providers, and the push to use principles of self-determination when future planning with youth and young adults with disabilities, which allows for research that more accessible and more relevant to the daily lives of people with disabilities who identify as LGBTQ+. The article discusses the need of further research that focuses on experiences, social change, and reaching towards equality in healthcare and in other spaces in the community that include the voices of people with disabilities who identify as LGBTQ+.
Caregivers:
The article, Supporting the Whole Person: The Case for Educating Caregivers, discusses how the lack of training among caregivers can hinder the sexual expression and freedoms for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The article highlights research that has demonstrated that the attitudes of caregivers on the sexuality and gender identity of people with IDD have significant influence on the opinions, attitudes, and experiences of people with IDD and are critical in providing successful supports for these individuals to develop meaningful relationships and healthy identities. The article also discusses programs and resources that take a human rights-based approach to teaching caregivers about sexuality and gender identity in disability culture, which may help shift attitudes and stigma that create barriers to forming and maintaining relationships for people with IDD who identify as LGBTQ+. This article is also available in English.
Resources:
- SAGE National Resource Center on LGBTQ+ Aging (in English) released Advanced Care Planning for LGBTQ+, a guide for members of the LGBTQ+ community and service professionals that provides steps to prepare for potential health needs and end-of-life decisions. SAGE also provides a report, Health Equity for LGBTQ+ Older Adults of Color: Engaging Individuals, Communities, and Organizations, that highlights how state, community, and local organizations, as well as healthcare funders and providers, may have an innovative impact on health equity for LGBTQ+ people with and without disabilities.
- What is Intersectionality?, one of NARIC’s Questions from the Community, defines intersectionality and shares Research in Focus articles that discuss the intersectionality of disability and other marginalized identities. This Consumer Question is also available in English.
Courses:
- The course, Sexual-Self-Determination Certification Program (in English), is designed to empower parents, service providers, and healthcare professionals to respond to issues of sexual health and development in positive, proactive, and person-centered ways, and to promote healthy sexuality and relationships for people with disabilities, including those who identify as LGBTQ+. Participants gain knowledge, skills, tools, and resources to increase their comfort, understanding, and ability to address important social-sexual issues, including masturbation, consent, boundaries, and Internet use, among others.
Webinars:
- The Sex Talk for Self-Advocates Webinar Series (in English), from the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) Sexual Health and Disability Special Interest Group (SIG), is a nine-part webinar series that address self-advocate questions about relationships and sexuality. The series covers a variety of topics, including LGBTQ+ relationships, marriage, and sex and intimacy, among others – with a focus on people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Further Research:
REHABDATA:
- Disability and LGBTQ (NIDILRR-funded only).
- Disability and LGBTQ (Includes non-NIDILRR-funded items).
PubMed:
International:
About Answered Questions
Each month, we look through the searches on our blog and through the information requests made by our patrons who speak Spanish and pick a topic that fills the largest need. Each resource mentioned above is associated with this month’s information need. We search the various Spanish language news sources and feeds throughout the month to bring you these articles. With the exception of the NIDILRR Projects, From the NARIC Collection, and Further Investigation, all the linked articles and resources are in Spanish – any that are in English will be clearly marked.
