Sexual assistance is support for people of
functional diversity so that they can have
sexual access to their own body and sexual experiences.
Some people with
physical disabilities may not have the dexterity, mobility, or other freedom of movement to engage in sexual activities, including
masturbation
Masturbation is the sexual stimulation of one's own genitals for sexual arousal or other sexual pleasure, usually to the point of orgasm. The stimulation may involve hands, fingers, everyday objects, sex toys such as vibrators, or combinatio ...
, without physical assistance from another party. The support provided may range from assistance with preparation, which may include self-grooming; accessing and using sex aids or sexual services; and physical assistance with bodily movement and positioning.
Ethics and criticism
Advocates of sexual assistance believe this practice allows people with
disabilities
Disability is the experience of any condition that makes it more difficult for a person to do certain activities or have equitable access within a given society. Disabilities may be cognitive, developmental, intellectual, mental, physical, se ...
to exercise their
sexual rights on the same basis as non-disabled individuals do, thereby placing sexual assistance services into the same category as any other form of
social assistance
Welfare, or commonly social welfare, is a type of government support intended to ensure that members of a society can meet basic human needs such as food and shelter. Social security may either be synonymous with welfare, or refer specificall ...
. Opposing positions consider that it is a form of
prostitution
Prostitution is the business or practice of engaging in Sex work, sexual activity in exchange for payment. The definition of "sexual activity" varies, and is often defined as an activity requiring physical contact (e.g., sexual intercourse, n ...
which, in their view, is
sexual exploitation, and should be