ABSTRACT
For many adults with disabilities, sexual self-stimulation is their primary means of sexual activity, and many are not even capable of engaging in this activity independently. The increase in the availability of sexual toys in the last three decades has not yet taken into consideration adults with disabilities. There are some community initiatives all over the world that allow people with motor disabilities to get together with professionals to develop their sexual autonomy, but no official programme that presents sex toys, or other methods, to make their sex lives easier. Our chapter focuses on the rather difficult reality of the sexuality of adults with motor disabilities. It also explores some design solutions for sex toys that can assist them in their sexual self-stimulation activities. Using a co-design methodology, participants with upper limb mobility limitations were engaged, from beginning to end, to develop design solutions that would lead them towards sexual autonomy and well-being in their masturbation practices. Results concerning current masturbation practices, some of the problems experienced by participants and the testing of the design solutions are documented. Finally, we situate this work within a broader context of socially constructed ideas about sexuality, disability and health.
(sexuality, disability, sex toys)
