Voices from the Margins – People with Disabilities on Desire

Elevatus is more than a training facility for sexual health competency for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities; it is a wealth of resources. The Elevatus newsletter is always full of free sexual health resources and goodies and this week’s newsletter is no exception. Click on the button below to access “Listening to Self-Advocates Voices: How Shameful, Negative Messages, and Fear-Based Sexuality Education Puts People At Risk”

Hear from Self-Advocates on Desire

Please read the Elevatus article and if you can, track down the original article  Restrictions, Power, Companionship, and Intimacy: A Metasynthesis of People with Intellectual Disability Speaking About Sex and Relationships by Rhonda S. Black and Rebecca R. Kammes, (Intellect Dev Disabil. 2020 Feb;58(1):65-81), pass it on!

Check Out the Article

Credit

Post written by  Cierra Olivia Thomas-Williams, Prevention Specialist, Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV), cwilliams@icadvinc.org.

Webinar 9: Sex and Sense Ability: Disability, Sexuality, and Available Adaptations

Description

When we challenge assumptions and acknowledge that people with disabilities can and often are people with sexual desires, we grant people with disability agency over their bodies and desires. Sex and pleasure are accessible to everyone with some creativity and an open mind. In this jam packed session we will hit on a multitude of topics related to sex and sexuality from practical adaptations, conversations with caregivers, navigating partnerships, body positivity and sex surrogacy. Sexual desire is a spectrum for us all, including people with disabilities. It’s time we talk about how we talk about sex, sexuality, desire and intimacy. From social media movements like #disabledpeoplearehot and #babewithmobilityaid to discussions with doctors and other service providers, the discussion is happening all around us. Join Em Mais and Skye Kantola as they share a queer inclusive perspective on navigating this complex topic. Everyone (over 18) and ready to engage openly is welcome and encouraged to attend! CC coming soon!

Webinar Outline
  • 5-10 minutes: Housekeeping & introductions
  • 20 minutes: Accessibility & Aids
  • 20 minutes: Communication & Sexuality
  • 10 minutes: Technology & Resources
  • 10 minutes: Q & A
Presenters
  • Em Mais (they/them), Disability Advocate, Researcher, and Undergraduate Student at Indiana University
  • Skye Ashton Kantola (she and they), Program Coordinator, Multicultural Efforts to End Sexual Assault, kantola@purdue.edu
  • Cierra Olivia Thomas-Williams (she/her, Tech Moderator), Prevention Specialist, Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence
  • Note: Lane Banister and Em Mais originally created this curriculum and Em and Skye made some modifications to the curriculum for today’s webinar.

Closed Captions & Transcript created by Skye Ashton Kantola, MESA Program Coordinator

Co-Sponsors

Webinar 8: Nothing About Us Without Us: Accessible Organizing

Description

As a collaborative team we will discuss what we have learned about organizing sexual violence primary prevention work with people disabilities and through our lived experience as people with various disabilities.

Webinar Outline
  • 5-10 minutes: Housekeeping & introductions
  • 40 minutes: People with Disabilities to the front! (Jody)
  • 20 minutes: Outreach and Process (Skye)
  • 20 minutes: Budgeting for accessibility (Cierra)
  • 10 minutes: Attendee questions
  • 5-10 minutes: Resource recommendations
Presenters
  • Jody Powers (she/her), Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities
  • Skye Ashton Kantola (she and they), Multicultural Efforts to End Sexual Assault
  • Cierra Olivia Thomas-Williams (she/her), Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Closed Captions & Transcript created by Skye Ashton Kantola, MESA Program Coordinator

Co-Sponsors

Abused and Betrayed by NPR

NPR provides 8 in-depth stories about sexual violence and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including interviews with people who have been harmed by sexual violence and their family. This series is available as a podcast as well as transcripts.

Review the Series

Credit

 Post by Cierra Olivia Thomas Williams, Prevention Specialist at Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence