Sexuality and Disability Resource List
This list will forever be a work in progress. It was originally curated as a resource for sexuality professionals to increase their overall knowledge and awareness about sex and disability. But I think (hope!) there's something on here for everyone!
sexual respect toolkit training film
(Video) A 30-minute video designed to educate health and social care professionals on multiple topics related to sexuality and disability.
(sex)abled: disability uncensored
(Video) A 15-minute documentary celebrating people with disabilities as sexual beings.
supporting disabled people with their sexual lives: a clear guide for health and social care professionals
(Book) To quote Amazon, "This is a straight-talking guide to supporting disabled people with their sexual lives." Easy to read. Highly recommended. By Tuppy Owens.
The MA+ Guide: a guide to more accessible sexuality-related assistive technology
(PDF) A "collection of ideas" about ways to use or adapt sexuality and positioning products for folks of all abilities. Written by an occupational therapist at the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Western Australia. You may also want to check out this online article about accessible sex toys published by The Mighty in February 2017.
Erika Lynae’s sex toys and disability guide
(Website) This may be a more user-friendly—or just more quick and dirty—guide to sex toys than the MA+ Guide above. Features some popular, recently released products. And there’s a YouTube video at the top of the page if you’d rather watch than read to get the info.
Intellectual and DEvelopmental Disability
autistic hoya
(Website) Lydia X.Z. Brown's blog and website. Incredible resource on autism and disability justice.
Sex Ed For Self Advocates
(Website) A sex education resource written specifically for people on the autism spectrum age 15 and up. Includes videos, articles and quizzes on a wide variety of sexuality topics. Created by Organization for Autism Research.
Sex Ed For Self Advocates Podcast
(Podcast) Also created by Organization for Autism Research, this 9 episode series covers a wide range of topics, including an episode on puberty presented from a non-binary perspective. Episodes range in length and are also available on Google Play, Apple Podcasts, and Blubrry.
Sex Ed For People with I/DD
(Videos) A series of 10 videos created by and for people with IDD. Each 2-3 minute video covers a different sexuality topic. See episode 9 for a demonstration on how to properly put on and remove a condom! Created by the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) and Rooted in Rights, with support from the WITH Foundation.
sexual self-advocacy
(Website) Green Mountain Self-Advocates. Supporting people with developmental disabilities to express their sexuality.
Communication Disabilities
Accessibility includes communication
(PDF) Great resource from Communication Disabilities Access Canada (CDAC), whom I love! Includes instruction on how to communicate with folx who use augmented communication including letter boards, a communication assistant and more.
A brief guide to consenting with a nonverbal partner
(Online article) Fabulous article written by the incredible Eva Sweeney for Scarlteeen.
spinal cord injury
sexability
(Website) Bay Area-based organization committed to empowering people with disabilities to expand sexuality and create loving intimate relationships. Great trainings related to spinal cord injury specifically. Hire Rafe or Ligia to teach an online workshop for your organization or for an hour of individual supervision/education around sex and SCI!
chronic illness
chronic sex
(Website) Kirsten Schultz's website dedicated to being a safe place to discuss sexuality and chronic illness.
but you don't look sick
(Website) Great resource on chronic illness by the woman who created "The Spoon Theory."
depression
Jo-Ellen Notte: sex, mental health, and how none of us are broken
(Website) The go-to person/resource on sexuality and depression.
striving for allyship
disability etiquette: tips on interacting with people with disabilities
(PDF) If I'm walking with a person with a guide dog, which side do I walk on? What's the difference between person-first language and identity-first language and when do I use which? A 36-page PDF guide presenting appropriate language and behaviors for interacting respectfully with people with disabilities.
what does it mean to be an ally?
(Website) Definitions, roles, responsibilities and resources on striving for allyship.
i'm not your inspiration, thank you very much
(Video) Stella Young breaks down the cultural habit of viewing people with disabilities as "inspiration porn" in this 9-minute TED talk. Spoiler alert: don't do it.
accessibility
social media accessibility guide
(Website) A quick guide to general accessibility principles for social media.
accessible social media
(Website) Breaks down best practices for each social media platform.
Planning and producing Accessible videos
(Pre-recorded webinar/audio download) How to make your videos accessible. Presented by Minnesota IT Services.
tips for making print more readable
(Website) Want to improve the readability of your website, business cards, intake forms and handouts? Here's how!
Accessible fonts
(PDF) More tips on text! Concise and specific.
disability language style-guide
(Website) Unsure how to talk most respectfully about disability in your writing or classes? This guide presents "the appropriate and accurate language to use when talking about people living with disabilities."
universal design
media
disability after dark
(Podcast) "The premier podcast on sexuality and disability" with Andrew Gurza. Available on iTunes.
cast from the earth
(Book) OMG, read this book. A queer, polyamorous love story featuring multiple disabled characters. Oh yeah, and a zombie apocalypse. By Leandra Vane.
desires reborn
(Book) Erotica featuring characters with disabilities. By Penny Pepper.
sins invalid
(Website) "Sins Invalid is a performance project on disability and sexuality that incubates and celebrates artists with disabilities, centralizing artists of color and queer and gender-variant artists as communities who have been historically marginalized from social discourse." If you're in the Bay Area, come to their annual live performance. They also do facebook live chats on sex and disability, offer trainings, published a disability justice primer, and have video clips from their performances on their website. Oh, and check out The Chili Story!
disability visibility project
(Podcast) Not explicitly about disability and sexuality, but Alice Wong is a badass disability justice advocate that you should be following. Check out the episode on "Labor, Care Work, and Disabled Queer Femmes"! Available on iTunes.
The Mighty
(Website) If you’ve followed my work for a bit, you likely already know that I’m a fan of The Mighty, an online community “for people facing health challenges and the people who care for them.” Finding articles by other folx navigating depression or recovery has saved my ass on more than one bad day. Folx write about all aspects of disability, illness, and chronic pain on The Mighty, but here is a list of articles specific to sex and disability:
How to Talk to Your Lover About Your Disability
12 Ways to Make Sex More Enjoyable with Chronic Pain
These Dating Apps are Made for People with Illnesses and Disabilities
5 Disability Inclusive Sex Positions to Spice Up the Bedroom
8 Ways to Make Sex More Enjoyable When Your Illness Makes You Exhausted
Scarleteen
(Website) Technically designed for youth and young adults, Scarleteen is my go-to recommendation for any and all sex ed questions for folx of any and all ages. Related to sex and disability, I particularly love s.e. smith’s articles. A few of my favorites are listed below:
Consent is Sexy: Sexual Autonomy and Disability
Taking Your Body for a Ride: Masturbation and Disability
Sex on the Brain: Sex and Autism, Mental Illness and Other Cognitive Diversity