United Spinal Association knows that sexuality and relationships are essential components of health & wellness. We offer many articles and videos to help you explore and reclaim your mojo post-injury. We also offer webinars and other information to support you if you choose to build a family.
New Mobility Magazine
Our membership publication, New Mobility, serves up rich, thorough content about sexuality and disability. Its offerings range from the sweet Date Night Photo Contest to a regular round-up of sexual aids and toys designed by and for people with disabilities.
There are also articles about relationships, and the magazine’s offerings on parenthood especially shine. United Spinal member Kenny Salvini reports how he and his wife successfully utilized in vitro fertilization to become the parents of a beautiful baby girl. Salvini is also a founder of United Spinal’s Washington state chapter, The Here and Now Project. Other articles share experiences that range from raising toddlers to caring for elderly parents.
Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital
Our hospital member, Mount Sinai, created its Sex, Love and Intimacy series with assistance from United Spinal’s New York City and Hudson Valley Chapters. The 16 videos cover topics ranging from debunking myths about sex and SCI to fertility to sexual positions.
“Effects of Disability on Sex After SCI” is an especially excellent video for people with new injuries to watch. It discusses some of the medical concerns that can occur with post-injury sex, such as autonomic dysreflexia — and how to deal with them, so they don’t get in the way of pleasure.
Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center’s Post-SCI Sexual Function Factsheets
For a detailed medical breakdown of how SCI impacts sexuality, read the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center’s Sexuality & Sexual Functioning After SCI. United Spinal collaborates with MSKTC to disseminate this factsheet and many others.
Everlasting Love Video Series
The Everlasting Love Video Series features 40 episodes of people with physical disabilities speaking to each other about all aspects of sexuality, including how to improve arousal, dating strategies, reproductive justice, sexual orientation and disability and much more. The series was produced by Sustain Our Abilities with input and participation from United Spinal staff and members. .
Help Hope Live
Help Hope Live is a nonprofit fundraising site to help people pay medical bills and expenses. United Spinal staff works closely with the group to ensure a strong outreach to wheelchair users. In addition to helping families raise funds, HHL offered two great webinars with moms who use wheelchairs.
Hope Talk – Pregnancy with a Disability features four moms who use wheelchairs, including United Spinal member Kelley Simoneaux.
Hope Talk – Parenting and Relationships With a Disability features two couples with twins in which the mom is a quadriplegic. One of the moms is Dani Izzie, who produced a documentary of her experience, “Dani’s Twins.”