28 January 2010
David Abbott, Senior Research Fellow and Acting Director of the Norah Fry Research Centre contributes to the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) social care TV film 'Working with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people - people with learning disabilities: Richard's story'.David was the lead author on Secret Loves, Hidden Lives? Exploring issues for men and women who are gay, lesbian or bisexual published in 2005. The report can be ordered on line direct from publishers The Policy Press.
The project found that the men and women with learning difficulties that they met told them that being gay, lesbian or bisexual was an important part of their identity. It was a part of themselves that most people wanted to develop more. Despite the barriers to doing this, people’s stories about their sexuality were characterised by resilience and successful strategies for finding support. Love was a major topic of conversation in the research interviews and relationships featured strongly in people’s hopes and dreams for the future.
A summary of the report and other resources from the project can be found on the resources section of this website.