Dr. Alan Martino (he/him) is a faculty member in the Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies program in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the University of Calgary.
His main research interests are in critical disability studies, gender and sexualities; feminist and critical disability studies theories; qualitative and community-based research (particularly participatory and inclusive research methodologies). His doctoral research examined the romantic and sexual lives of adults with intellectual disabilities in Ontario, Canada, by putting into conversation theories from both the sociology of sexualities and the field of critical disability studies. His current research project explores the intimate lives of 2SLGBTQ+ disabled people in Alberta.
His work has been published in journals, including Disability Studies Quarterly, Canadian Disability Studies Journal, and Culture, Health and Sexuality, as well as edited volumes focused on disability and/or sexualities studies. He is the former co-lead for the Sociology of Disability Research Cluster at the Canadian Sociological Association, as well as the current co-lead for the emerging Disability and Intimate Citizenship Research and Advocacy Hub.
Areas of Research
Critical Disability Studies; Gender & Sexualities; Qualitative Research; Community-based Research (Particularly Participatory and Inclusive Research Methodologies)
Drawing on interviews with 31 2SLGBTQ+ people labelled with developmental and intellectual disabilities, this exploratory study focuses on participants’ experiences navigating mainstream queer social spaces. The current study is an explorative qualitative view at the intersection of the 2SLGBTQ+ and disability community. There is a call for more inclusive spaces for people with disabilities within queer social areas. Although queer spaces attempt to be free and inclusive, many have inaccessible activities and locations. The findings depict that individuals with lived experiences are not often represented in the 2SLGBTQ+ community due to a lack of inclusion. Participants highlighted feelings of rejection as people with disabilities were not represented in many 2SLGBTQ+ focused groups or organizations. This presentation calls attention to creating more inclusive intersectional spaces to promote inclusivity and ensure people with disabilities have the opportunity to contribute through an active role in the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
More Speakers
MPH
Ontario, Canada
Promoting sexual health with Autistic youth: The SIECCAN service provider toolkit
Ph.D.
Alberta, Canada
The experiences of 2SLGBTQ+ adults labelled with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities when navigating mainstream queer social spaces
