Topping and Bottoming with Disability: A Panel Discussion

Class Description

How disability intersects with kink is something many of us are never taught early in our journeys, including how being disabled or our play partners being disabled may inform how we top and/or bottom. What adjustments need to be made for a bottom that is hard of hearing or deaf? What happens if a top has limited mobility? What measures can be taken for tops and bottoms that experience sensory overwhelm? How can we include conversations about our disabilities when negotiating play? Through this panel discussion, four kinksters bring their experiences and advice on navigating living with disabilities as tops, bottoms, and switches.

This panel discussion will not encompass all disabilities and experiences, but is meant to help some folks start a dialogue and consider how going forward we can collectively normalize these conversations.

Presenter Bio

@Skeleton_Bitch (they/he/she), aka Lizzie, aka Picasso of Pain, is a disabled, genderfluid dominant/sadist/artist and one of the hosts of the monthly queer-centered play party, @qinkdc. They have been participating in kink since 2006 and part of the DMV kink community since 2022. They have been navigating the nuances of being kinky while living with multiple chronic illnesses and being autistic with ADHD (AuDHD) and what that means for them as a dominant, top, and organizer.

@bluealienbarbie (she/her) a top-leaning switch who has been in the kink community for a little over 2 years. She has hearing loss and wears hearing aids. She had found that because of her hearing loss she has had to adapt to nonverbal communication in scenes, both as a top and a bottom.

Alice (She/Her), has been an active member of the kink community since 2019. She has found a passion for exploring the intersection of kink and neurodiversity, particularly as an autistic individual. Through her journey, she has delved into the intricacies of navigating the kink world while embracing her identity and experiences as an autistic person; with a specific focus on communication styles, sensory experiences, and boundary setting within kink dynamics.

Meredith (she/her) is a Deaf queer cis woman who has been practicing kink since 2000. She is a longtime community educator and has presented at local and national events; in her professional life she is a disability activist and accessibility advocate.

• All ticket sales are at the door.

Tickets are $5 for Black Rose Members and Members of Reciprocal Groups with their Membership Card and $10 for non-members.

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Accessibility accommodations are available upon request to accessibility@br.org. Please give us two weeks’ notice.

If you have questions or would like to request a class topic, please email education@br.org