SHADA was formed in 2005 by the Outsiders Trust to bring together professionals who work with disabled people. We share our work and empower each other to support disabled people in their sex and relationship needs.
We meet twice a year in London, meetings are free but people must book in advance. Meetings focus on matters concerning those in the meeting and the agenda is printed on this website in advance.
SHADA held a conference on 13th November 2009 at the Royal Society of Medicine and sometimes publish leaflets on topics discussed. We have produced draft policies on sex for health care professionals and shared discussions with the Alistair Bradford, senior social worker at the Ministry of Defence, Headley Court.
We are growing from strength to strength and have the top pioneers in this field as members. We enjoy a varied membership making our discussions multi-dimensional. This is a selection of our members:
Andy Beckingham FFPH (Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health), Consultant in Public Health in the UK and India, and works on reducing inequalities.
Alex Cowan promoter of disability awareness and equality, writer and spokesperson on disability and sexuality. Alex and her husband, Lionel Roth, were selected to speak on the Channel 4 TV Sex Education Show.
Lorna Couldrick an OT who, until recently, was a Senior Lecturer at Sussex University and still teaches and trains on sexuality and disability. Lorna constructed the Recognition Model to replace the PLISSIT model for health professionals working with disabled people. She and Alex Cowan wrote the chapter “Enabling disabled people to have and enjoy the kind of sexuality they want” in the book Women, sexuality and the political power of pleasure.
Claire de Than lecturer in Human Rights and Criminal Law at City University and author of many books on the subject of Human Rights. Claire is specialising in disabled people and sex, having been inspired at our conference at the Royal Society of Medicine
Narella Higson an OT at The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Western Australia who compiled the MA+ Guide the leading resource on sex toys for disabled people and works as in Perth, Australia
Helen Dunman teacher at Chailey Heritage Foundation where she has responsibility for Personal Social and Health Education and developing Sex Education.
Jan Lang Practice Advisor at the House with No Steps, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.
Gill Leno the PSHE (Personal, Sexual, Health, Emotional) Specialist Therapist at Queen Alexandra College in Birmingham which is a specialist VI college for people with a wide range of learning, sensory and physical disabilities. Gill specifically teaches about sex and relationships, risk taking behaviour and internet safety.
Sue Newsome sex therapist, tantric teacher and sex worker. Sue demonstrated her skills at working with disabled clients on stage at our conference and is soon to speak on disability at the College of Sex and Relationship Therapy, London.
You are welcome to join us.
The Outsiders Trust is a Charity, Registered Nos 283350 and SCO3830
