Episode 8 - Talking About Sex Shouldn't be a Taboo: Rethinking Sexuality in Disability Services

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.