The “cool factor” goes a long way: Sexual health adaptive equipment

Occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) have a long history of using assistive devices (AD) to promote independence by aligning the occupation, client, and assistive technology (AT), as outlined in the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process (OTPF-4; American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], 2020). 

This article explores the limited choices people with disabilities have when choosing AD and notes three AD companies that are leading the way to enable function and participation without sacrificing aesthetics and choice. This article also demonstrates typical sexuality-focused occupational therapy interventions and how an OTP can help bridge the gap between AD and our clients.  

Development of ADs by both industry partners and OTPs primarily focuses on function without regard for aesthetics, self-expression, fashion trends, and individuality—all of which can increase the accessibility and adoption of ADs (Dos Santos et al., 2022; Nartker et al., 2022). For evidence of this, look no further than common colors of compression garments or universal cuffs. Colors that are skin toned are typically light and have few options for black and brown skin tones. For people with disabilities, real choice and variety among adaptive options is rare.