Some festivals and conferences with exhibitors and workshops on disability and sex education
Naidex Conference
Free registration is open for Naidex 2023, the 50th year of the flagship event for the disability community in the United Kingdom. Held at National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, the next show is scheduled for March 22 and 23, 2023.
Naidex provides a platform for industry experts and organizations to showcase the latest innovations and developments in the field of disability and rehabilitation.It features a range of products, services, and information for people with disabilities, as well as for their carers, families, and healthcare professionals.
In 2022 and 2021, Hot Octopuss was the lone sex toy company—and apparently first-ever—to exhibit at the annual trade show for the disability and rehabilitation sector. The brand’s PULSE line of hands-free penis strokers were a popular draw for attendees. They can be used when flaccid or erect and were developed using penile vibratory stimulation and based on research on men living with spinal cord injuries.
LoveAbilities
LoveAbilities is an annual virtual sex and disabiltiy event that has run since 2020. A 2023 date has not been set, but the past four events were promoted on Eventbrite.
The last three events were free and offered “Nibble Sessions.” These shorter events lasted no longer than two hours and featured speakers who spoke and then gave Q&A sessions.
The virtual events were organized Dr. Mitchell Tepper and Lorraine Stanley, a disability and sex training consultant from the United Kindom, and a group of volunteers.
The first LoveAbilities virtual festival took place in October 2020. This inaugural event was led by Dr. Martha Lee, a relationship counselor, sexologist, and sexuality educator from Singapore. Organizers also included Michelle Donald, a psychosexual therapist from the United Kingdom, and Dr. Mitchell Tepper, a sexuality educator and coach from the United States.
The theme of the 2021 sex and disability event was “A Celebration of Disabilities, Sexuality, Kink, and Culture.” Shared sex education information on practicing BDSM with a disability.
Love Abilities/Eventbrite shares its mission on its event page:
“People with disabilities (PWD) want access to their bodies for pleasure, love, intimacy, and reproductive rights — and we’re not giving up! Our mission? To provide people with all types of disabilities the knowledge, skills, and resources to take pleasure in their sexuality and to clear a pathway for optimal sexual expression.
“Our vision? People with disabilities will be empowered to lead the fullest sexual lives possible; and for their caregivers, lovers and allies to help support or be part of their life.”
Sins Invalid
Sins Invalid is a performance project that features artists with disabilities exploring themes of sexuality, embodiment, and the disabled body. Their performances and workshops often include discussions of sex education and sexual health.
Disability, Sexuality, and Rights Online Institute
The Disability, Sexuality, and Rights Online Institute (DSROI) his annual online event brings together scholars, activists, and practitioners to discuss issues related to disability, sexuality, and human rights. The disability event and course lasts six weeks and includes a variety of sessions on topics such as sex education, sexual health, and disability justice.
Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity – Hawaii
This symposium is hosted by the Center on Disability Studies at the University of Hawai’i and focuses on issues related to sexuality, disability, and reproductive health. The event includes a range of presentations and workshops on topics such as sex education, sexual health, and intimacy.
Sexuality and Disability Conference – Saskatchewan
In October 2022, Inclusion Saskatchewan, Creative Options Regina, and Saskatoon Sexual Health hosted a conference to discuss education and health regarding sex for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
CTV News reported that the event’s keynote speaker, Alan Martino, an assistant professor from the University of Calgary, said that people with disabilities want to have relationships. He added that sex and intimacy should not be taboo topics.
The sex and disability conference featured a panel of speakers who shared their experiences with intellectual disabilities and offered advice from their personal experiences. The speakers discussed inclusivity, sex health, and learning about feelings associated with romantic relationships and sex. The conference’s hosts emphasized the importance of educating people with intellectual disabilities and their caregivers about the topic and promoting inclusivity. Conferences like this help to reduce the stigma around sex and relationships for people with disabilities and grant them the same human rights as everyone else.
Last updated on March 8, 2023
