Exploring Sexuality and Disability

Offering a current, comprehensive and intersectional guide for students, practitioners, and researchers, this book synthesizes existing scholarship on culturally responsive practices that assist in exploring, understanding, and affirming the sexuality(ies) of disabled, chronically ill, neurodivergent, and Mad individuals. Drawing on an intersectional framework, it integrates insights drawn from an interdisciplinary body of scholarship including psychology, social work, sociology, history, political science, women and gender studies, cultural studies, and education along with perspectives from the practitioners who are actively defining the next generation of best practices.By highlighting the incredible resilience and resistance of disabled individuals’ and communities’ sexuality and sexual wellbeing, this book challenges narratives that rely primarily on a one-dimensional view derived from the medical model and the view of disability as something to be "fixed"––or at least tolerated––rather than celebrated. In a world that pathologizes and devalues the sexual existence of disabled individuals, it illustrates how to create thriving communities and relationships, and how they can organize to find their voice, providing a counter-narrative of empowerment that fosters hopefulness, power, and health. It will be of interest to all scholars, students and professionals across a variety of professions, including social work, psychology, counseling, policy, healthcare, education, community organizing, and multiple social service settings.

"By centering a disability justice framework and the various intersections of disability and sexuality, Exploring Sexuality and Disability: A Guide for Human Service Professionals challenges readers to reflect and unlearn existing biases and to expand their worldview to not only consider but prioritize the sexual rights of disabled communities. This comes at a pivotal time as the world still grapples with the realities of an ongoing pandemic yet continues to marginalize the needs and priorities of disabled people. This is an essential, practical resource that will serve as a catalyst for meaningful and necessary conversations for human service professionals and will undoubtedly lead to increased best practices in the field, as well as amplify the voices and demands of disabled people."Jayleen Galarza Patterson, PhD, LCSW, CST, Associate Professor of Social Work and Gerontology, Shippensburg University"This book does a phenomenal job of providing a much needed, intersectionally aware resource for professionals in the fields of sex and disability. It is also a necessary read for anyone working or training in the fields of health, wellness, communication, relationships, and more. The topics explored here are of vital importance to so many clients and patients, and the editor and authors have done an exceptional job of providing accessible, compassionate, and authentic perspectives." Ruth Neustifter, PhD, RP, RMFT, Associate Professor University of Guelph, ON, Canada"Discussing sexuality and disability with nuance, dissecting privilege, acknowledging neurodivergence, and not shying away from the fact that all people need to have access to sexuality education is refreshing. The abuse of disabled people has been living in the dark for far too long and this book not only brings to light the fact that it happens, but also gives ways to interrupt abusive cycles through concrete examples backed by research methodologies. I can’t wait to use this text in my classroom and teachings." – Lexx Brown-James, PhD, LMFT, CSE, CSES, Founder @ The Institute, Swarthmore, PA, 19081"This book is an impressive and fresh knowledge-share on disability and sexuality, providing an invaluable personal and professional resource with its research, lived experience, and observations. It covers an inclusive breadth of topics discussing how social, physical, and mental processes intersect and impact the sexual expression of disabled people. With Disability Justice rooted in every article's framing, readers can experience a unique educational opportunity by exploring modern-day sexual issues and best practices in a well-researched and comprehensive text." Robin Wilson-Beattie, Disability Sexual and Reproductive Health Educator

Shanna Katz Kattari, PhD, MEd, CSE, ACS (they/them/theirs) is a certified sexuality educator, associate professor at the University of Michigan School of Social Work and Department of Women’s and Gender Studies, and director of the [Sexuality | Relationships | Gender] Research Collective. Their work focuses on disability and ableism; sexuality and sexual health; and queer and trans affirming care. Find out more about their work at ShannaKattari.com.