Disability & Sexuality Lab Podcast

In this episode of the Disability and Sexuality Lab Podcast, we welcome Dr. Amy McPherson—senior scientist at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital and associate professor at the University of Toronto. With a background spanning taboo health topics, psychotherapy, and participatory research, Amy brings a refreshingly practical, inclusive, and justice-oriented lens to conversations about disability and sexuality. We explore the birth of the Let’s Talk Disability and Sex hub, the importance of collaborative and culturally responsive resource development, and how participatory methods—like photovoice and arts-based exhibits—create space for disabled youth to reclaim their sexual identities on their own terms. Amy also discusses knowledge mobilization that works, including her work with the ProFILE lab and her belief in starting with people’s lived realities—not researcher assumptions. From DIY sex toy adaptation workshops to the growing backlash against inclusive sex ed, Amy reflects on how ableism and stigma remain barriers to sexual expression, and why representation, intersectionality, and humor matter. With humility and care, she emphasizes the value of asking questions, centering disabled voices, and creating research that serves real-world needs. This episode is a thoughtful, hopeful look at what it means to build a world where pleasure, intimacy, and sexual health belong to everyone.

In this episode of the Disability and Sexuality Lab Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Patsie Frawley, Associate Professor at the National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability Health at the University of New South Wales and one of the leading voices in inclusive, rights-based sexuality education. With nearly four decades of experience, Dr. Frawley reflects on her journey from developing grassroots sexuality programs to shaping international research collaborations focused on violence prevention, peer-led education, and reproductive justice. We talk about the enduring challenges of control and protectionism in the lives of people with intellectual disabilities, and why reframing vulnerability as a structural issue—rather than an individual trait—is critical for justice. Dr. Frawley highlights the wins, from grant programs requiring partnerships with disabled people, to the sustained success of initiatives like Sexual Lives and Respectful Relationships and the emerging work of Rainbow Rights and peer educators in Australia and Sweden. This conversation is full of practical wisdom: from strategies for working with caregivers and parents, to the urgent need for hubs that bring together scattered resources, campaigns, and sex ed programs. Dr. Frawley also challenges the limits of awareness campaigns and tokenistic inclusion, advocating instead for systemic shifts that recognize disabled people as full, complex sexual beings—not exceptions, but part of the expected fabric of everyday life. Tune in for a powerful episode on listening, learning, and undoing the systems that continue to sideline disabled people’s sexual rights and desires.

In this episode of the Disability and Sexuality Lab Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Po-Han Lee, associate professor at National Taiwan University and a leading voice in the growing movement to reimagine disability and sexuality in Asia. Drawing from his research and activist work in Taiwan and across the region, Dr. Lee reflects on the silences, structural exclusions, and creative coalitions shaping queer and disabled lives. We dive into the powerful work of organizations like Disabled + Queer and Hand Angels, who are not just advocating for access, but radically rethinking what pleasure, care, and intimacy mean. Dr. Lee offers a critical analysis of how disability and LGBTQ+ movements often operate in silos, and how real change comes not through simple inclusion, but through disruption—of space, of language, and of dominant assumptions about desire, normalcy, and human worth. From queer porn with assistive tech to the politics of public ramps and family silence, Dr. Lee shows how storytelling, activism, and research can reshape both policy and culture. This conversation is a vibrant call to center interdependence, pleasure, and dignity—not as afterthoughts, but as foundations for social justice.

In this episode of the Disability and Sexuality Lab Podcast, we’re joined by Kristyn White—researcher, advocate, and literacy facilitator at Creative Options Regina. Kristyn candidly shares her personal transformation from someone who once avoided conversations about sexuality to a passionate educator championing the sexual rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We discuss the real-life challenges frontline caregivers face when navigating sexuality in support work, and how Kristyn’s early experiences—like witnessing public masturbation at a community pool without any preparation—shaped her understanding of how under-resourced and untrained many workers are. She reflects on the powerful role organizations can play in either silencing or supporting open conversations about sex and intimacy. From confronting myths that paint disabled people as perpetual children to advocating for pleasure-based sex education, Kristyn emphasizes the importance of small, everyday actions—like language shifts and casual check-ins—that can collectively disrupt ableism in care spaces. Drawing on her frontline work and her graduate research, she highlights why rights-based approaches, sex-positive programming, and proactive conversations matter. Tune in to hear how we can reframe support work, empower caregivers, and make room for disabled people to experience relationships, make mistakes, and pursue pleasure—without fear or judgment.

In this episode of the Disability and Sexuality Lab Podcast, we are thrilled to be joined by Andrew Gurza—disability awareness consultant, host of Disability After Dark, and co-founder of Bump’n, a sex toy company designed by and for disabled people. Andrew shares the personal and political origins of his work: from being told his dreams were just hobbies to boldly creating a new career path centered on sex, disability, and unapologetic visibility. We talk about the double marginalization queer disabled people face in both LGBTQ+ and disability spaces, and why true access isn’t just about ramps—it’s about desire, risk-taking, and messy, real-life sexual experiences. In his signature candid style, Andrew breaks down the ableism that underpins sex education, activism, and queer nightlife. He reflects on media representation, his work consulting for Queer as Folk, and the importance of giving disabled people—not just “pretty” ones—the same chances to get laid, make mistakes, and be seen as desirable. With humor, vulnerability, and a call to confront our discomfort, Andrew reminds us that real change starts with asking: Why does disabled pleasure scare us so much?   Make sure to check out Andrew's podcast: https://www.andrewgurza.com/podcast Also, hurry up and get a copy of Andrew's new book: Notes from a Queer Cripple: How to Cultivate Queer Disabled Joy and Be Hot While Doing It!

In this episode of the Disability and Sexuality Lab Podcast, we speak with Shanshan Ouyang, a Chinese graduate student at Ritsumeikan University in Japan, whose research explores the intersection of disability and LGBTQ+ activism across East Asia. Shanshan takes us on a deeply personal and political journey—from filming a documentary on coming out in China to discovering the invisibility of disabled queer identities in LGBTQ+ spaces. We discuss how cultural taboos, inaccessible queer venues, and a lack of representation in manga and media shape the lived experiences of disabled LGBTQ+ individuals in China and Japan. Shanshan also highlights the challenges of applying Western theories like crip theory in non-Western contexts, and how countries like Taiwan are creating more flexible, culturally responsive care systems for disabled people of diverse gender and sexual identities. From navigating Pride events in inaccessible spaces to building cross-cultural connections through social media and research, Shanshan offers thought-provoking insights on the importance of visibility, culturally situated activism, and social accessibility. The conversation ends with a powerful reflection on the slogan “Nothing About Us Without Us” and a vision for a more inclusive, individually responsive world. Tune in for a compelling episode that reminds us of the global dimensions of disability and sexuality and the need for locally grounded, intersectional scholarship and activism.

In this episode of the Disability and Sexuality Lab Podcast, we are joined by Dr. Amie O’Shea, a lecturer in Disability and Inclusion at Deakin University in Australia. Dr. O’Shea shares her fascinating journey from hands-on disability support work to becoming a leading researcher in gender, sexuality, and intellectual disability. We explore the complex interplay between gender norms and intellectual disability, as well as the ways societal expectations often limit the opportunities for disabled people to define and express their identities. Dr. O’Shea sheds light on Australia’s approach to sex education, highlighting both its progress and its gaps, particularly in its disproportionate focus on vulnerability and abuse prevention over pleasure and intimacy. From debunking normalization myths to advocating for more inclusive conversations around disability, gender, and sexuality, Dr. O’Shea offers valuable insights and practical tools, including the groundbreaking work of Rainbow Rights and Advocacy, an LGBTQ+ self-advocacy group by and for people with intellectual disabilities. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion about dismantling barriers, navigating societal discomforts, and reimagining disabled sexualities in ways that celebrate uniqueness and authenticity.

In this episode of the Disability and Sexuality Lab Podcast, we welcome Dr. Claire Azzopardi Lane, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Gender and Sexuality at the University of Malta. Dr. Azzopardi Lane shares her inspiring journey from working as a personal assistant in Australia to becoming a leading advocate for the sexual rights of disabled people in Malta. We dive into the challenges of dismantling ableist assumptions, the importance of including disabled voices in policymaking, and the transformative potential of sex education. Dr. Azzopardi Lane also sheds light on Malta’s initiatives, including national policies addressing sexuality, parenting, and domestic violence among disabled individuals, as well as the crucial role of monitoring to ensure these rights are upheld. Join us as we explore advocacy, rights, and policy in this empowering conversation.

In this powerful episode of the Disability and Sexuality Lab podcast, Dr. Alan Martino and undergraduate student Eleni Moumos sit down with Dr. Robert McRuer, a professor in the Department of English at George Washington University, to explore the intersection of disability, queerness, and sexuality. Dr. McRuer, renowned for his work in crip theory and cultural studies of disability, offers insights into the complex ways compulsory able-bodiedness and heterosexual normativity act as forms of social control. The discussion delves into the importance of disrupting these norms, the reclamation of "crip" as a defiant identity, and how disability studies and crip theory can challenge and reshape dominant narratives about sexuality and embodiment. Dr. McRuer also highlights the need for more authentic media representations of disability and sexuality, discussing groundbreaking works such as the Spanish documentary Yes, We Fuck. The conversation underscores the necessity of intersectionality, collaboration, and solidarity between marginalized communities in advocating for social change. Tune in to hear an engaging exploration of how embracing stigma, reclaiming marginalized identities, and dreaming of a world beyond ableism can open up transformative possibilities for disabled and queer individuals. Join us as we disrupt normative narratives and push the boundaries of how we think about disability, sexuality, and pleasure.

In this thought-provoking episode of the Disability and Sexuality Lab podcast, Dr. Alan Martino and undergraduate student Rachel Trung dive deep into the complexities of disability and sexuality with Dr. Julia Bahner, an Associate Professor at Lund University in Sweden. Dr. Bahner shares insights from her extensive research, where she interviewed individuals with diverse disabilities to explore their experiences with sexuality, relationships, and societal attitudes. From the challenges of navigating intimacy with personal assistance services to finding one's identity in a world that often desexualizes disabled bodies, this episode explores the importance of recognizing and validating disabled people's sexual desires, boundaries, and diverse relationship forms. Dr. Bahner also discusses the nuances of sex work and sex surrogacy, the impact of societal norms on the perception of disabled bodies, and the necessity of comprehensive and inclusive sex education. Tune in to hear about the innovative ways people with disabilities are reclaiming their sexual identities and desires and the importance of creating a more inclusive society. This conversation challenges conventional narratives, emphasizing the need for open communication and a personalized approach to sexuality for all individuals. Join us as we delve into the intersections of accessibility, pleasure, and sexuality, providing a platform for these crucial yet often overlooked conversations.