ON A ROLL: Family, Disability and The American Dream
A JOANNE CAPUTO FILM
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For Immediate Release
Contact: Joanne Caputo
May 16, 2004
E-mail: beanyhead@woh.rr.com

Sex Convention Adds New Layer to Disability Film

YELLOW SPRINGS, Ohio - A Chicago sex convention was the recent location for filming of "On A Roll," Joanne Caputo's independent documentary about disabilities. While sex educators, counselors and therapists gathered at the Chicago Hilton for annual meetings, Caputo interviewed the founder of SexualHealth.com, Dr. Mitch Tepper, whose dissertation involved the study of orgasm for people with spinal cord injuries. Caputo explored the topic of "facilitated sex" for people with disabilities, a topic introduced by Greg Smith in "On A Roll."

"Someone may use their personal care attendant to do other activities of daily living," explained Tepper. Activities of daily living are normally regarded as non-sexual, like bathing, dressing and feeding. But healthy sexual behavior is also an activity of daily life, and for a person with a disability, it may require assistance, as well. "Whether you are someone who is alone and need your attendant to set up for you - maybe plug in - a vibrator or whether you need your attendant to help transfer you into a bed with a partner and then leave (or stay), the truth of the matter is that many people need help and they need help in expressing their sexuality."

Caputo also obtained engaging footage of accessible sex toys being demonstrated by sex educator and counselor, Cory Silverberg, co-author of "The Ultimate Guide to Sex and Disability" and co-owner of Toronto's "Come As You Are" sex shop. The toy demonstration will be an "On A Roll" DVD special feature.

Additional Contacts:
Mitchell Tepper, Ph.D.
Dr. Tepper is a past board member for the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT.org), SIECUS (SIECUS.org), and the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH.org). He currently serves on the editorial board of the journal Sexuality and Disability and as an Advisory Board Member to The Woman's Sexual Health Foundation (TWSHF.org) and the National Center for Primary Care (www.msm.edu/NCPC2003), which is charged with advancing the 2001 Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Promote Sexual Health and Responsible Sexual Behavior under the direction of former Surgeon General David Satcher. Tepper has been a guest lecturer for five years at the Yale University School of Medicine, and is now Assistant Professor of Physician Assistant Education at Quinnipiac University.
www.sexualhealth.com