We either love this holiday or hate it. For some, cherished and fond memories arise from this holiday. For others, isolation and unworthiness shade this day. Adults with developmental & intellectual disabilities (I/DD) do not get much airtime during this holiday.
Much of the structure and practices in today’s world hinder adults with I/DD from developing romantic relationships. In an article by The Ruderman Family Foundation:
For example, in one recent study, people with intellectual disabilities reported excessive caregiver supervision, which resulted in a lack of privacy and some really awkward moments (Rushbrooke et al., 2014). Sometimes support providers attempted to alleviate the tension by making jokes, but these jokes ended up humiliating the clients. Just as they were about to get it on. Also, for the PWD that do have romantic or sexual relationships, we are denying them access to critical information about birth control, sexually transmitted diseases, and mental health in the context of sexuality. Adolescents and adults with disabilities widely report the need for more education in these areas (Murphy & Young, 2005). And parents report that they often don’t provide this critical information to their children with disabilities, because they fear that providing this information will lead to relationships that are ultimately exploitative (Richards, Miodrag, & Watson, 2006).
Let us consider all humans and the need for inclusivity on this day of affection because at the end of the day, all us just want to be loved.