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Papers by Claire Azzopardi-Lane

Routledge eBooks, Nov 13, 2023

Tizard Learning Disability Review, Jan 3, 2017

Purpose-The purpose of this paper is to provide a commentary on the paper "Supporting people with... more Purpose-The purpose of this paper is to provide a commentary on the paper "Supporting people with learning disabilities to make and maintain intimate relationships". Design/methodology/approach-Comparison of the sexual rights of persons with disability, as outlined in the 2006 Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability, with research on actual policy and practice. Findings-The sexual expression of persons with learning disability remains suppressed by those in positions of power, such as parents and service providers. Originality/value-While there remains a long way to go, the commentary points towards examples of empowering policies and good practice that may shift the discourse towards sexual rights and emancipation of persons with learning disability.

Mental Handicap Research, Oct 27, 2021

BACKGROUND Sex education for people with intellectual disability is in its infancy in countries w... more BACKGROUND Sex education for people with intellectual disability is in its infancy in countries where their sexual expression is still considered a taboo. This study aimed at exploring the experiences of professionals involved in providing sex education to people with intellectual disability across a number of services in a Maltese context. METHOD Qualitative research was conducted using interviews to explore professionals' experiences of sex education provision. RESULTS Amid a persistent culture of sexual suppression, desexualisation, infantalization and control remain barriers to sex education delivery. Findings underline the need for services to have clear policies that aid professionals in delivering sex education, while mitigating conflicts encountered. Recommendations highlight sex positive environments and services, with a pro-active approach to sex education. CONCLUSION In spite of internationally binding legislation and local policies, further changes need to be made on the ground to provide persons with intellectual disability with effective access to sex education.

Sexuality is an area in which people with learning disability are disabled by social attitudes. S... more Sexuality is an area in which people with learning disability are disabled by social attitudes. Stereotypical views about the sexuality of people with learning disability range from asexuality, implying that they have no erotic or romantic inclinations, to hyper-sexuality which reinforces institutionalized sex segregation through the process of social exclusion. In Malta all these influences contribute to hinder the rights and the quality of life of people with learning disability. The theory of the social model of disability underpins the research aims, while reflecting discourses of equality and rights. The research aims at giving a better understanding of the sexual lives of people with learning disability in a Maltese context, whilst eliciting the opinions and beliefs of people with learning disability themselves, their parents and their service providers. Qualitative data, collected from people with learning disability, their parents and service providers is interpreted using p...

Community Development Journal, 2016

Women with disability are said to experience double discrimination, and their role as mothers aug... more Women with disability are said to experience double discrimination, and their role as mothers augments their experiences of disablement. This qualitative research explores the intertwining and complex factors that emerge from the narratives of four disabled mothers in a Maltese cultural context. Interviews were conducted with four mothers who have different impairments. The findings from the narratives are presented using a life course approach. In the analysis of the data, social factors were found to impinge on the experiences of mothers with disability to a greater extent than impairment-related factors. These social factors comprise the immediate support networks of each mother, as well as wider cultural factors pertaining to being a mother with disability in Malta. The responses of the four mothers to these factors the stigma and misconceptions about the inability of disabled women to be mothers while at the same time, particularly mothering.

Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 2021

Disability & Society, 2020

This study explores the topic of abuse through the involvement of persons with intellectual disab... more This study explores the topic of abuse through the involvement of persons with intellectual disability residing in Malta, in order to evaluate legislation and practices related to their rights to be free of financial abuse. This study is based on principles of emancipatory research and aims to enhance collaboration between the participants and the researcher, as well as promoting empowerment. Seven participants were recruited to participate in five workshop sessions which sessions were used to collect participants' feedback and opinions. The findings of this study indicate that the implementation of rights is not always efficiently and easily practiced. Whilst control of personal finances and involvement in decision-making were significant concepts reported by the participants, this study also suggests that power relations in the lives of persons with intellectual disability are a major concern. The balancing of power relations, self-advocacy and self-determination are identified as ways how to address financial abuse.

British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 2019

Accessible summary Persons with learning disability who live in Malta, especially women, feel the... more Accessible summary Persons with learning disability who live in Malta, especially women, feel they do not have as many opportunities to make friends and form relationships as other persons who do not have a learning disability. Persons with learning disability feel lonely but wish they had the opportunity to do the things non‐disabled people do, such as have relationships, get married, live on their own and have children. At times, their parents and people who work with them do not help them with this. It is important that persons with learning disability from a young age are supported and empowered so that they can exercise their sexual rights. BackgroundThis paper explores the sexuality of young persons with learning disability in Malta with respect to their opportunities and the constraints they experience.Materials and MethodsInterpretative phenomenological analysis was used to decode qualitative data collected from persons with learning disability.ResultsFindings reveal a conte...

Tizard Learning Disability Review, 2017

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a commentary on the paper “Supporting people with... more Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a commentary on the paper “Supporting people with learning disabilities to make and maintain intimate relationships”. Design/methodology/approach Comparison of the sexual rights of persons with disability, as outlined in the 2006 Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability, with research on actual policy and practice. Findings The sexual expression of persons with learning disability remains suppressed by those in positions of power, such as parents and service providers. Originality/value While there remains a long way to go, the commentary points towards examples of empowering policies and good practice that may shift the discourse towards sexual rights and emancipation of persons with learning disability.

Ramseier/Health Behavior Change in the Dental Practice, 2010

British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 2014

ABSTRACT Accessible summaryPeople with intellectual disability need to be able to talk about the ... more ABSTRACT Accessible summaryPeople with intellectual disability need to be able to talk about the things that are important to them in their lives.This includes talking about their sexuality and the type of relationships they would like to have.A self-advocacy group did research about this subject with our support.Together we found that sexuality is an important topic for many people with intellectual disability.There are those who would like to have more opportunities to have sexual relationships. SummaryThis paper presented research undertaken in collaboration with a self-advocacy group using inclusive research methods and puts forward the views of people with intellectual disability on the topics of sexuality and relationships. The paper presents the perceptions of sexuality of the people with intellectual disability and how these are influenced by social and cultural norms. Using Judith Bulter's concept of performativity, the analysis of the findings shows how some people with intellectual disability accept the sexual norms that are ascribed to them, while others resist them. The paper also shows how the inclusive research process itself enabled the people with intellectual disability who took part to articulate their acceptance or resistance of these norms.