Episode 5 - Expanding the Menu: Gender, Sexuality, and Disability

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.