All topics

Sexuality and disability: Breaking taboos on a basic human need

Published on September 5, 2025 at 12:39

What if one of the biggest taboos about sexuality wasn’t what you think? Even today, the emotional, romantic, and sexual desires of people living with disabilities are often overlooked—or worse, denied altogether. Yet intimacy, love, and a fulfilling sex life are not luxuries; they are essential human needs. It’s time we start talking about it.

In Canada, about one in seven people aged 15 and older reports living with a disability that limits their daily activities. That’s nearly 4 million people. Almost a quarter of them face severe limitations*. And still, these realities are too often invisible in conversations about sexuality and intimacy.

Intimacy doesn’t disappear with disability

The need for tenderness, connection, touch, and being valued as a human being doesn’t vanish because someone has a disability. In fact, these needs can become even stronger when isolation, dependence, or the erasure of one’s romantic life are part of everyday reality.

Many express their wish to be in a relationship, to build a stable partnership, to receive affection, or simply to be seen as desirable. And it’s not always about sexual activity; it can be as simple as wanting to hold hands, share a knowing glance, or feel the warmth of another person. To deny these needs is to deny someone a vital part of their humanity.

Different realities but real barriers

Sexuality for people with disabilities is not one-size-fits-all. Some live fully active romantic and sexual lives, while others face real challenges.

The most common barriers include:

  • A lack of privacy, especially in care homes or when relying on others for personal care
  • Physical dependence, which can require assistance to explore or express sexuality
  • Infantilization, where people with disabilities are treated as if they are asexual or forever “childlike”
  • Ongoing stigma and prejudice
  • An absence of accessible sex education, leaving many without the knowledge, rights, or tools to safely explore intimacy

These barriers are not insurmountable. Resources do exist; however, they are still too few and often unknown. Specialized organizations provide support, education, and safe spaces for open conversation.

The role of caregivers and health professionals

Whether you’re a family member, caregiver, healthcare professional, or community worker, listening with respect and openness is essential.

That means:

  • recognizing that emotional and sexual needs are part of overall health
  • setting aside judgment or discomfort when these subjects come up
  • creating safe environments for people to ask questions, share needs, or set boundaries
  • Training professionals, since sexuality is too often ignored in care settings

It’s not about encouraging inappropriate behaviour. It’s about recognizing every person’s right to live a fulfilling emotional and sexual life on their own terms.

Supporting without imposing: Fostering respectful support

When it comes to intimacy, support should never be about dictating what someone’s private life should look like.

Instead, it’s about:

  • Providing information on rights, options, and adaptive tools
  • Encouraging self-discovery and personal growth
  • Respecting each person’s values, boundaries, and pace

In some countries, trained sexual assistants are available to help people explore intimacy in a safe, ethical framework. It’s a controversial subject, but it raises important questions about dignity and inclusion.

What matters most is that the person at the center defines their own needs, desires, fears, and limits. Support must come from open, compassionate dialogue. It should not be impacted by the fears or projections of those around them.

Toward a more inclusive society

Breaking the taboo around sexuality and disability means recognizing that every person deserves to be loved, touched, desired, and respected as a whole human being. Pleasure, love, and intimacy are not privileges. They are fundamental needs.

Starting the conversation is already a step toward more inclusion, compassion, and justice. We all deserve the chance to thrive sexually—each in our own way.

Article written in collaboration with Au lit avec Anne-Marie


Sources

*Statistics from the Government of Québec (French only)
https://frq.gouv.qc.ca/projet/handicap-droit-a-la-sexualite-et-assistance-sexuelle-quelles-avenues-possibles-2/

The drugs and pharmaceutical services featured on the familiprix.com website are offered by pharmacists who own the affiliated pharmacies at Familiprix. The information contained on the familiprix.com site is for informational purposes only and does not in any way replace the advice and advice of your pharmacist or any other health professional. Always consult a health professional before taking or discontinuing medication or making any other decision. Familiprix inc. and the proprietary pharmacists affiliated with Familiprix do not engage in any way by making this information available on this website.