Let's Talk Disability and Sex

June 01, 2023

At the 2023 EKO Spring Symposium, attendees had the privilege of witnessing a raw and inspiring conversation between Ryan O’Connell, an Emmy®-nominated and Writers Guild Award-winning writer, actor and producer, and Wesley Magee-Saxton, Former EKO Scholar and Actor/Dancer/Coach. They shared personal experiences and insights with sexuality and identity as the audience listened, captivated. These were two of the many voices that deserve to be heard discussing realities that demand a space.

Want to get a conversation started, respond to questions from a client or share information with others? Check out the Let’s Talk Disability and Sex hub. Hosted online, the hub joins the expertise of Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital’s Evidence to Care team and Dr. Amy McPherson’s ProFILE lab to provide resources, tools and strategies that guide folks through productive conversations in this complex, yet pivotal space. The hub acknowledges common questions and uncertainties, and initiates necessary conversations in ways that are curated, informative and impactful.

Youths, parents, educators, health professionals, and anyone interested will find resources like:

• Video Impact Stories—young adults, parents, educators and health professionals share their experiences, advice and hopes for discussions about sexuality;
• conversation guides, books and infographics—developed specifically to help youth, parents, educators and health professionals talk about sexuality in a safe and positive way;
• simulations—videos that capture the same conversation from different perspectives as a means of fostering reflection, education and action; and
• research, resources, and events.

The hub continues to expand as more resources are created and shared, like the recently-added and first-of-its-kind book, Becoming You: Exploring sexuality and disability for pre- teens, available free as an accessible PDF and also in a narrated version. This resource integrates youth, parent, educator and health professional voices to guide folks through questions of identity, disability and sexuality.

Increasingly, young adults are asking for advice, a listening ear or guidance from those closest to them.

Visit Let’s Talk Disability and Sex to better prepare yourself for these conversations.

Evidence to Care is part of the Teaching and Learning Institute at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. Dr. Amy McPherson leads the ProFILE Lab (Promoting a Future of Inclusive Healthy Lifestyles for Everyone) in the Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital.