People who are ill or disabled have the same sexual needs and desires as everyone else. In the past, these needs have too often been neglected, not because the disabled themselves were not interested in sexuality but because physicians and other healthcare professionals were uncomfortable learning about their sexual needs and discussing these needs with their patients. Fortunately, that is beginning to change, and now sexuality counseling is a normal part of the recuperation from many diseases and injuries in many hospitals. It is important for all of us to learn that the disabled are just like everybody else and simply desire to be treated like anyone else.
If you are experiencing problems with sexual functioning, illness, or disability, it is important to seek help as soon as possible. Often, when the problems are ignored, they lead to bigger problems down the road. If you are in college and have a student counseling center available to you, this may be a good place to start looking for help. Request a counselor who has received training in sexuality or ask to be referred to one who has.
Today, many therapists receive specific training in sexuality. One of the best training organizations in the United States is the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT). This organization offers certification programs in human sexuality for counselors, educators, and therapists and can also provide information on those who are certified as therapists or counselors.