Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2026

Abstract

Inclusion-focused dating shows such as ‘Love on the Spectrum’ feature individuals with developmental or neurological disabilities on a quest for love. Despite the focus on disability representation, these shows perpetuate stigma against the disabled community by fostering an infantilizing portrayal of individuals with disabilities. This portrayal undermines the premise of encouraging meaningful romantic relationships and reinforces the stigmatizing association of asexuality with disability. This framing aligns with the broader societal narrative that individuals with disabilities are incapable of or lack interest in participating in romantic relationships or physical intimacy.

The stigma that associates asexuality with disability extends beyond mere entertainment, allowing the public to justify the exclusion of individuals with disabilities from sex education and reproductive health services. This exclusion is specifically tied to the notion that individuals with disabilities cannot or should not have romantic relationships or engage in physical intimacy. In midst of an epidemic of sexual abuse against individuals with disabilities, their right to comprehensive sex education and accessible reproductive health services is vital to their well-being. Systematic exclusion from sex related services and environments contributes to a range of health and social issues, including an increased risk of sexual assault, higher risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, and the denial of sexual self-determination for individuals with disabilities To address this, there must a shift in media representation to focus on the capabilities of individuals with disabilities, a nationwide coalition which advocates for equitable reproductive health care, including accessibility to sex education in terms of materials and teaching methods. *Third-year law student, Saint Louis University School of Law ** MD, JD, MPH, Associate Professor of Law, Saint Louis University School of Law; Associate Professor of HealthManagement and Policy, Saint Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice Copyright 2026 by The Trustees of Indiana University. Reproduced with permission from the Indiana Journal of Law and Social Equality.

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