Sexuality & Access Project 2.0 (SAP2.0)
In 2011, Cory Silverberg and Fran Odette published their Sexuality and Access Project (supported by Springtide Resources and funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation). They surveyed over 400 people (attendant service users and attendant service providers) on the attendant service relationship, sexuality, and access. As stated in the survey summary, they began the project with the four following truths in mind: Sexual rights are human rights, sexual health is a core component of general health, people with disabilities who use attendant services have a right to access information and resources about their sexual health and support in expressing their sexuality, and lastly, attendants have sexual rights, which include the right to a workplace that is not sexualized.
One of the key conclusions they came to was “Everyone wants to talk, but no one knows how to start the conversation”. To view the 2011 Project Survey Summary, click HERE.
Who Are We?
In 2021, Wallace and Melanie from t6talk (Brantford, ON) realized the above key conclusion has remained unchanged and wondered how they could be part of the solution. Through conversations with Independent Living Centres in Ontario and BC (Waterloo, Kingston, Ottawa, and Victoria), along with the Sexual Health Team in BC (Blusson Spinal Cord Centre/GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre) and others, the conclusion was reached that further consultation was needed.
Later in 2021, t6talk partnered with SHORE Centre in Kitchener ON, the University of Guelph, and U of G’s Community Engaged Scholarship Institute (CESI) and began Phase 1 of the Sexuality & Access Project 2023 (SAP2023).
Phase 1 - Complete!
Phase 1 was centered around consultation with people who access attendant care services and those who provide these services. This was achieved by updating the original two surveys used by Fran and Cory (with their consent). The surveys went live across Canada in January of 2023 in both English and French, and remained open until the end of that year. In addition to this, qualitative interviews were conducted in the fall of 2023 and into early 2024. The team analyzed and compiled this information and it was presented at a virtual town hall.
Virtual Sexuality and Access Town Hall
Thanks to everyone for making our virtual Sexuality and Access Town Hall on June 25th, 2024, a success!
To access the recording, click on the image or click HERE.
Phase 2
The Sexuality and Access Townhall on June 25th, 2024, marks the official end of Phase 1 and the start of Phase 2. Phase 2 will be focused on developing a training program to address the needs identified in Phase 1. Currently, the team is focused on training for attendant service users, attendant service providers, as well as a train the trainer program. There is also the potential for a training program directed at clinicians so that they might be better informed when supporting people with disabilities. To encourage divergent thinking, an Advisory Committee will be formed to review the team’s work and to provide input. The team will be seeking people with lived experience, across disability and across Canada for this Advisory Committee.
Interested in Supporting SAP2.0?
Share: If the nature of the Sexuality and Access Project 2.0 aligns with you as an individual, or your organization’s mandate, you could help by sharing this with others. To receive updates on the project, the communication materials, advisory committee, and to be added to the distribution list, please email t6talk@gmail.com.
Donate: If you are interested and able, we welcome donations to support the Sexuality and Access Project 2.0. Thanks to those who have contributed! We could not have completed Phase 1 without you, but we are not at the finish line yet. Your donation will go towards compensating people with lived experience who assist with the project, paying for translation services and covering administrative costs. Please note, t6talk does not receive any of these funds. The Sexual Health Options Resources and Education (SHORE) Centre is collecting donations on behalf of the Sexuality and Access Project 2.0. Please visit the following link to donate and select SAP2.0 from the "FUND" dropdown menu. A charitable tax receipt will be issued. CLICK HERE.
Research Ethics Board (REB)
This project has been reviewed by the Research Ethics Board (REB) for compliance with federal guidelines for research involving human participants. If you have any questions regarding your rights and welfare as a research participant in this study, please contact: Katelyn Wadleigh, Manager of Research Ethics; University of Guelph; reb@uoguelph.ca; (519) 824-4120 (ext. 56606). REB# 22-03-019
The Team
t6talk: Melanie & Wallace
We are Melanie (she/they) and Wallace (he/they) of t6talk. As disability advocates, we believe in the importance of community and making connections. This project focuses on a subject near and dear to our hearts… the importance of Accessible Sexual Health within the disability community.
To learn more about us, explore this website. We would love to hear from you…
Advocates: Thyra Calvert & TK Pritchard
Thyra (she/they) and TK (they/them) are a couple of feminist dreamers, community builders, advocates, educators and… an actual couple. Thyra is an inclusive sex and relationship therapist, specializing in topics of disability, sexuality, gender, ethical/consensual non-monogamy, and their various intersections. TK is a non-profit leader, currently as the executive director of the National Abortion Federation Canada after serving as the executive director for SHORE Centre, as well as a manager at the sexual assault support centre. Thyra and TK both exist in the world as queer, genderwild, disabled people, raising kids, pets and an unreasonable number of plants.
SHORE Centre: Kayla Orr
Kayla (she/her) is the Executive Director of SHORE Centre a non-profit organization located in Waterloo Region that offers sexual health education and medical services. She is a fierce advocate for abortion access, reproductive justice, and patient-centred care. While Kayla is well known for her warm and empathetic demeanour, she is perhaps best recognized for her ability to move mountains and cut through the bureaucratic red-tape that inhibits equitable access to healthcare.
SHORE Centre: Jasper Smith
Manager of Training and Outreach. Bio to come.
Community Engaged Scholarship Institute (CESI) - University of Guelph: Lindsey Thomson (and Kevin)
Lindsey (she/her) is a community engagement professional who facilitates and supports course-based community partnerships in research across a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses at the University of Guelph. She is passionate about community engagement and anti-oppressive research practices and is also a first-year PhD student and emerging scholar who collaborates among neurodivergent, queer, and disability communities. She is a white settler who lives in Guelph, Ontario, with her partner CJ and Kevin.
Community Engaged Scholarship Institute (CESI) - University of Guelph: Dr. Elizabeth Jackson
Elizabeth (she/her) is passionate about critical community engaged scholarship, arts-based research, interdisciplinary scholarship, and storytelling. She has witnessed their amazing potential to create meaningful, positive social change. Liz is employed as Director of the Community Engaged Scholarship Institute at the University of Guelph, which facilitates mutually beneficial community-university research collaborations. In that role, she provides leadership and strategic direction to the Institute and guides staff members in the development and implementation of all programs. Liz' non-profit and activist work centre around arts and mental health, community change, and anti-oppression efforts. A lover of song and story, Liz firmly believes in the potential of art-based community making to increase well-being and contribute to struggles for social justice.
University of Guelph: Dr. Adam Davies
Adam (they/them) is an Assistant Professor of Family Relations & Human Development. They are a queer, feminist, and interdisciplinary critical scholar, Registered Early Childhood Educator, and Ontario Certified Teacher (K-6), who holds a diverse research platform and interests. Their PhD is in Curriculum Studies & Teacher Development with collaborative specializations in Sexual Diversity Studies and Women & Gender Studies from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto. Much of their work utilizes queer and post structural-theories to analyze systems of gender and sexuality as it pertains to experiences of children and youth within early years and K-12 school settings. Adam’s doctoral research focused on affect theory, the construction and regulation of queer intimacies, and masculinities within queer men's online spaces using critical theory and cultural studies lenses. They also conduct research on inclusion within various theoretical frameworks as it relates to both disability and gender and sexuality in K-12 schooling and early years settings. Further research interests include the sociology of childhood and youth studies and socio-cultural constructions of childhood and adolescence.
University of Guelph: Ashley Cole
Ashley (she/her) is a PhD student at the University of Guelph in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. As a PhD student, she study’s employee voice. She has also conducted research on the employer’s perspective of accommodating employees with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Early Onset Dementia. Ashley got involved in the Sexuality Access Project through her work at the Community Engaged Scholarship Institute as a Project Manager. Within her time at the Community Engaged Scholarship Institute, she has worked with various community partners to conduct community engaged research.
University of Guelph: Isabella Jakusik
Isabella (she/her) is an undergraduate student studying Psychology at the University of Guelph. She is excited about researching the intersections of sexuality and disability. She is currently researching the role of social support in employment outcomes for people with intellectual disabilities. Isabella is most passionate about fostering social support by designing programming for people living with mental illnesses, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ2IA+ folks.
Thank You Moira Forster!
A great BIG thank you to Moira! She is not longer an active team member, but we are keeping her in the loop as we move into Phase 2 and we would like to acknowledge her invaluable contributions to Phase 1 by keeping her bio posted. We wish her every success in her future endeavours.
University of Guelph: Moira Forster
Hi! My name is Moira Forster (she/her), and I am a Psychology undergraduate student at the University of Guelph. I find passion in learning from the perspectives of others, especially from underrepresented perspectives belonging to individuals within minority communities. During my time with this project, I have had the opportunity to research and understand the ways in which individuals with various disabilities struggle psychologically, socially, and systematically to find sexual health support. For this reason, I feel incredibly grateful to be a part of this work and hope that our efforts will contribute to furthering the acceptance of and education on sexual health support for individuals with disabilities.