Julie Fernandez, star of the TV Comedy show "The Office" has invited the Outsiders Club to join her at a Conference on Relationships
Outsiders delegates were invited to join Julie at an NHS conference, "Relationships, Sex and Young Disabled People" organised for professionals in Camden and Islington. The conference was attended by Eleni and Eirwen to represent Outsiders
Eleni and I attended the 'Relationships, Sex & Young Disabled People' Conference on 3rd October 2005 (website here: www.promarta.co.uk/sre), Delegates were mostly non-disabled professionals needing to find out more, and a handful of disabled people and associated others relatively in the know.
Reassuringly, the framework in which the whole conference was presented was within the social model approach to disability, and generally emphasised the needs of young disabled people being no different from those of young non-disabled people - the same need and right to appropriate and relevant information, empowerment and choice. It was great to hear about what different people, in different places and roles and times, were doing and have done.
I was very aware from interactions and questions, and the day as a whole, that many non-disabled professionals working with young disabled people around sex and relationships seem scared, and seem to experience a paralysis of initiative when presented with people with impairment talking about/exploring their sexuality - not feeling equipped to deal with them, nor to adapt existing resources or to create new ones. I felt they have many of the skills they need and simply need to have confidence in transferring/adapting them when encountering disabled people. I think many of them see disability as a barrier, and I think in effect they need some really good 'disability equality'/'diversity' training - to get to grips with the fact that disabled people are simply people. Yes, there are differences of experience and culture that are really important to be aware of and acknowledge (as with any oppressed/'minority' persons) - but disabled people are people. I think they are also desperately wanting to get it right for us, and fear of getting it wrong almost prevents them from doing anything.
I was also interested by some conversations about language - about young disabled people having limited access to language to describe their bodies, and to communicate intimate issues; and about the lack of clear and confident language within the disability rights movement to articulate, communicate and campaign around sex and relationship issues.
Posted: 9th October 2005