One of the most difficult parts of being a part of a marginalized group like having a chronic illness/pain condition/disability is that we are so often talked *about* without being included in on these conversations. This violates the basic ‘Nothing about us without us’ mantra that so many activists in the disability/illness/pain realm live by. It also serves to eliminate intersectionality when it comes to our experiences.
One barrier to our involvement in conferences and events is that there isn’t always a lot of press around the work we do; additionally, there isn’t one single place people can go to find us.
This will change that.
If you’d like to add your name, please fill out our Google Form. If you need to alter anything, please email Kirsten (me) at kirsten-at-chronicsex.org.
This is a joint project of Kate McCombs and Kirsten Schultz for the purposes of raising up voices similar to our own in potentially new communities.
Grayson Schultz
Pronouns: he/him/his
Email: graysongoal@gmail.com
Website: chronicsex.org
Areas of interest/expertise: sex, sexuality, queer media, representation, self-advocacy
Accessibility needs: Low-perfume spaces, limited fluorescent lighting (or notice that there is some so I can prepare)
Location: Ohio, USA
Kate McCombs
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Email: kate@katemccombs.com
Website: katemccombs.com
Areas of interest/expertise: Empathy, Relationship Communication, Talking About Sex in Medical Settings, Female Pleasure, Sexual Communication
Accessibility needs: Perfume-free spaces
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Jax Jacki Brown
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Email: jaxjackibrown@gmail.com
Website: http://fukability.blogspot.com.au
Areas of interest/expertise: Disability LGBTIQ, disability rights
Accessibility needs: Wheelchair access
Location: Australia
Jarrod Marrinon
Pronouns: he/him/his
Email: jarrodmarrinon@hotmail.com
Website: N/A
Areas of interest/expertise: Disability and sex, queer issues, bisexuality
Accessibility needs: Wheelchair access
Location: St Kilda, Victoria, Australia
Cassandra Corrado
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Email: Info@cassandracorrado.com
Website: Cassandracorrado.com
Areas of interest/expertise: Queer health, recovery from trauma, healthy relationships, communication building
Accessibility needs: N/A
Location: US – regional southeast
Andrew Gurza
Pronouns: he/him/his
Email: andrew@andrewgurza.com
Website: www.andrewgurza.com
Areas of interest/expertise: Sexuality, Disability, Queerness
Accessibility needs: Wheelchair access
Location: Toronto, Canada
Michon Neal
Pronouns: ze/he/she (Title: Mx)
Email: michon@postmodernwoman.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/p0stmodernwoman
Areas of interest/expertise: The Relationship Package Tailored for those delicious life-changing encounters, and those who save them for themselves alone to enjoy: Aro Eros Arrows The Expanded Sexual Spectrum Intersectional Non-Monogamy Woke Kinksters The Metanoia Package Perfect for those seeking to unravel and reweave their minds as they dance along the liminal edge: Unraveling Abuse Culture Riel’s Sensuality and Trauma Education Contextual Consent Beyond Empathy: Developing Emotional Intelligence The Unveiling Package Designed for those on the outside looking in and wondering what this is all about: The Forgotten Queers Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Black People The Invisibility of Disability The Privilege Package Consists of presentations and workshops designed to unpack privilege and produce accomplices: Parental/Caregiver Privilege From Ally Inaction to Accomplice in Action The Media Package Suited for those searching for richer ways of writing and weaving tales and reaching out: How to Write Cuil
Accessibility needs: childcare, comfortable furniture/chairs, regular snacks, elevators or help going up and down stairs and getting around, patience, bathroom nearby, low scent, no fluorescent lighting if possible, can’t stand for long periods of time, not comfortable around lots of cops as a Black Aspie, need gender-neutral bathroom
Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Mariah Leach
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Email: mariah@fromthispointforward.com
Website: http://www.fromthispointforward.com/
Areas of interest/expertise: pregnancy & motherhood with chronic illness; relationship communication; talking about sex in a medical setting
Accessibility needs: potentially a place to sit while speaking
Location: Boulder, Colorado, USA
Julie Baumler
Pronouns: she/her/hers or they/them/theirs
Email: juli@conversationandconsent.com
Website: conversationandconsent.com
Areas of interest/expertise: epilepsy
Accessibility needs: N/A
Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Isabel Kaufman
Email: isabel.kaufman@gmail.com
Website: N/A
Areas of interest/expertise: Sexuality in children with disabilities, parent and child communication. Sexuality education for disabled teens, pregnancy and disability
Accessibility needs: I use crutches most of the time and a wheelchair frequently
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Jodie Dunne
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Email: jodie.dunne@hotmail.com
Website: N/A
Areas of interest/expertise: Sexuality and chronic illness, chronic pain, pelvic pain, recovery from traumatic health events
Accessibility needs: A space that reduces sensory overload (noise, dust, perfume), Fluro lights aren’t great but direct sunlight is worse, option to sit or stand while talking, diet requirements supplied on request
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Bianca Palmisano
Pronouns: she/her/hers or they/them/theirs
Email: Bianca@intimatehealthconsulting.com
Website: Intimatehealthconsulting.com
Areas of interest/expertise: Medical education, Reproductive justice, disability and community health
Accessibility needs: Protein-full food if presenting across a meal
Location: Washington, DC, and Austin, Texas, USA
Kit Stubbs, Ph.D.
Pronouns: they/them/theirs
Email: kstubbs@toymakerproject.com
Website: http://toymakerproject.com
Areas of interest/expertise: DIY sex toys; sex + chronic illness (fibromyalgia)
Accessibility needs: N/A
Location: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Sarah Alexander
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Email: sarahinwonderland@outlook.com
Website: sarahinwonderland.co.uk
Areas of interest/expertise: Sex and Disability, Relationships, Intimacy Advice, Removing the Taboo Surrounding Sex and Disability, Sex Tips, Sex and Disability Education in Schools
Accessibility needs: Wheelchair access
Location: United Kingdom
JoEllen Notte
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Email: theredheadbedhead@gmail.com
Website: http://www.redheadbedhead.com/
Areas of interest/expertise: I research and write about sex and depression. I also live and work as someone with chronic migraines, ongoing spinal pain and occasional mobility issues, an autoimmune disorder, and anxiety. I like to say I’m “medically interesting”.
Accessibility needs: Fragrance-free environment, access to private quiet space during long days of presentations (conferences, etc), private (unshared) hotel room
Location: Portland, Oregon, USA
Cherish Dorrington RTC MTC
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Email: info@cherishdorrington.com
Website: https://www.cherishdorrington.com
Areas of interest/expertise: Intimacy, Relationships, Sexuality, Courageous Vulnerability, Polyamory, Kink
Accessibility needs: Comfortable seating, natural light(preferred), frequent breaks, afternoon start
Location: Victoria, BC, Canada
Rachael Rose
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Email: Hedonishblog@gmail.com
Website: http://hedonish.com/
Areas of interest/expertise: Chronic illness, vulva pain disorders
Accessibility needs: Severely allergic to fragrances/chemicals
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Tori Hobbs
Pronouns: they/them/theirs
Email: torihobbs@optusnet.com.au
Website: N/A
Areas of interest/expertise: Endometriosis, chronic pain, gender, dysphoria + it’s relationship with pain
Accessibility needs: N/A
Location: Victoria, Australia
Kelly J. Connell M.S.Ed., C.A.S.H.S.E.
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Email: connell.kelly@gmail.com
Website: kellyconnellconsulting.com
Areas of interest/expertise: Sexuality. Chronic Illness/Disability
Accessibility needs: N/A
Location: Niles, Michigan, USA
Robin Wilson-Beattie
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Email: Robin.wilsonbeattie@gmail.com
Website: www.sexabledwithRobinWB.com
Areas of interest/expertise: Sexuality, disability, intersection of race
Accessibility needs: Mobility- I use a walker. Also, chairs with arms, since I’m paralyzed on one side.
Location: San Francisco, California, USA
Monica Olsson
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Email: mmolsson@gmail.com
Website: N/A
Areas of interest/expertise: disability justice and queer identity presentations
Accessibility needs: I use alternative keyboard and require a chair to sit in.
Location: Olympia and Seattle, Washington, USA
Derica Brown/Intimacy ConAmore
Pronouns: she/her/hers or he/him/his or they/them/theirs
Phone: 972-352-9233
Website: twitter.com/polyfreelove
Areas of interest/expertise: Polyamory, social justice, arthritis, chronic pain and managing it
Accessibility needs: Seated leg support. Walker. No stairs. Standing for less than 10 mins at a time. Gentle touches and hugs.
Location: Dallas, Texas, USA
Robin Mandell
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Email: robininthepnw@gmail.com
Website: http://www.readysexyable.com
Areas of interest/expertise: disability and sexualized violence (sexual assault, child abuse, and other forms); introductory sexuality and disability training for medical (including mental health) and social service professionals; Creating accessible online and in-person spaces (emphasis on the human experience rather than the technical how-tos); disability and reproductive justice (access to sexual and reproductive health, disability and parenting, and more)
Accessibility needs: All material (contracts, conference information, handouts from other speakers or co-presenters, ETC.) in electronic format; Information about the physical layout of the space where I’ll be presenting; A cordless microphone to be able to hear audience questions
Location: Seattle, Washington, USA
Seeley Quest
Pronouns: sie/hir/hirs
Email: squesting@yahoo.com
Areas of interest/expertise: communication about Chemical injury/environmental illness, negotiating apparent and non-apparent health conditions, advocacy for accessible practices, self and community care.
Accessibility needs: Reduced scent exposures (in washrooms, etc.), minimal stairs preferred, info about food available, tech support (for sound, etc.) at venues. Currently English-only, hope 2019 to speak in French.
Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Aine Claire Walsh
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Email: ainebrighton@hotmail.com
Areas of interest/expertise: Neurodiversity, ADHD, CFS/ME, PTSD
Accessibility needs: Clear directions
Location: Brighton, UK