What is a Lab?

At IPEC, we have created our intimacy training to be radically accessible. So, we offer hands-on learning both in person, as well as virtual.

A lab is a real-time opportunity to take what you are learning into practical application, with a mentor right by your side.

How does a Lab Work?

Labs, online or in-person, are live learning. Attendance is expected for the scheduled time. If you have a conflict for a portion of the time, it must be preapproved by an IPEC staff member in order to receive credit for the lab. Please email us.

Who is this Lab for?

This covers lab work for Module 2. Anyone interested in accreditation or certification at IPEC is required to take Module 2 labs.

This Lab is also for anyone interested in creating a more accessible intimacy professional practice.

Objective:

In this live, virtual workshop, participants will examine their relationship to the concepts of Disability, Accessibility and Ableism. Through group processing and media analysis, students will identify ableist tropes in media, especially as they show up in intimate scenes, and will identify at least 2 actionable steps they can take to make their processes more accessible for disabled people. 
Guiding Questions:

• What is ableism? 
• How do we define Ability and Disability? 
• How does ableism show up in our media?
• How does ableism show up in our practices as intimacy professionals? How can we make our practices more accessible? 

Review - What is Disability? What is Accessibility? 

• What is our relationship to Disability? 
• What are our Access Needs?
• Disability Justice Principles 
  • How can we apply each principle to the intimacy profession? 

Part 1 -  Disability on Screen / Stage

• Analyzing Media - FILM 
  • How is ableism showing up? 
  • What thoughts or emotions come up for us?
• Analyzing Media - THEATER
  • How have disabled characters been treated on stage? 
  • How can we recognize tropes and make conscious decisions about disabled characters? How can we support their intimate stories?

Part 2 - Disability in the Room

• Access Suggestions for Intimacy Professionals
  • What’s in your kit?
  • What questions do you include in your process? 
  • How do you alter your language? 
• Specific Populations
  • How do we support Neurodiverse populations?
    • Deaf / Hard of Hearing folks?
    • Blind / Low Vision folks?
    • Wheelchair Users?
    • Limb Differences? 
    • Chronic Illness / Chronic Pain? 

Closure Practice 

• How are we showing up for each other?