Sex & Disability

Accessible Sex: Pain During Penetration

I just learned about a new toy to add to my “accessible sex” toy resource list so, of course, I had to share it here! The Ohnut is a stretchy ring designed to be worn around the base of a penis or penetrative sex toy to limit the depth of insertion during penetrative sex. Adjustable depth, comes in two sizes, and made of an FDA-approved, body-safe polymer. BPA-, phthalate-, silicone-, and latex-free. Learn more on their product page or in this 40 second product video on YouTube.

"BDSM as a Tonic for Serious Illness," in Scientific American

“BDSM…can provide an unexpected tool kit for those faced with body-altering, life-changing, serious illnesses. These tools include redefinition, acceptance and connection.”

Yes! Sociologist Elizabeth Anne Wood beautifully and succinctly articulates the role our sexuality and sexual expression can play in navigating the experience of illness, a lesson she learned by witnessing the experience of her mother during kidney cancer and subsequent dialysis. I love so many things about this article and can’t wait to check our her recently published full length book entitled Bound: A Daugher, A Domme, and an End-of-Life Story.

Click the blog title to read the full article.

Thomas Talks About Coming Out. Twice.

I love this brief (13 minute) podcast episode hosted by Erica Heilman in conversation with Thomas Caswell. Check it out!

“Autism doesn’t describe a person. If you’ve met one person with autism, then you’ve met one person…with autism. But over the last couple years Thomas has been coming out of the closet, in stages. And along with the common difficulties of coming out, there are some special difficulties if you’re a person with a disability. In this show, Thomas talks about growing up with autism, and growing into his life as a gay man.”

Inclusive Erotica for All of Us

“People with disabilities are often left out of conversations about sex as well as sexy time resources. But like in all areas of life, it’s important for people with disabilities to see themselves represented with sexual agency in erotic works of art, including film, literature, art, theater and photography.”

It’s important for all of us to see representations of ourselves in all kinds of media, and it’s important for all of us to see all kinds of bodies, desires, and sexual expressions in media. Inclusive erotica, inclusive sexuality education, accessible sex…these things make sex better for all of us.

So whether you identify as a person with a disability or as non-disabled, check out the incredible writers, artists, and performers on The Mighty’s list of Inclusive Erotica Featuring People With Disabilities You Can Read, Watch and Enjoy. This list is going to keep me busy for awhile!

Autism, Neuordiversity, and Disability Justice

Autism, Neuordiversity, and Disability Justice

"Instead, what autism really is is an enormous population of men and women with tremendous potential who are being denied what everyone deserves: the chance to live a happy, healthy, safe, secure and productive life. Viewed in this light, autistic people are one of the largest disenfranchised minorities in the world." --Steve Silberman