Calm, thoughtful, grounded reflections on a subject too often avoided or approached with unease: eros and disability. The authors address the difficulties faced by many disabled people and their families with clear-eyed awareness, refusing to hide the most fraught dimensions of the topic. Beyond their own analysis, they weave together contributions from professionals alongside testimonies from disabled people and their caregivers. Essential reading for physically disabled people seeking to reimagine their often desperate search for love and intimate relationship. Equally vital for parents of disabled children—and others—who want to meet the unfolding of their son's or daughter's affective and sexual development with knowledge rather than fear. Such development, the authors argue, should be engaged with foresight from childhood onward, ensuring that every life can unfold fully, wounds and all. Valuable, too, for professionals involved in comprehensive care for disabled people and those who support them.
Cristina Tersigni, 2008