ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on changes in attitudes towards the status of people with severe learning disabilities (SLD) in our society. On the surface, it appears that some of these positive attitudes are apparent when issues relating to sexuality of people with SLD arise. Educationally, The Handicapped Children Act was highly significant, since it recognized that all children regardless of their disability were entitled to educational provision. Parents and professionals have for some years now played an active role in deciding to what extent sex education should be taught in our schools. The 1988 Education Reform Act acknowledged the fact that there should be a common curriculum for all and therefore gave pupils with SLD further opportunities to be part of the mainstream system. The 1993 Education Act qualifies the responsibility of teachers and governors by giving parents the right to withdraw their child from all or any part of a sex education programme.
