Denise Jacobson In Bed with Eva



Denise Sherer Jacobson, M.A., has worked as an activist, educator, counselor, administrator, and oral historian (at UC Berkeley) in the Independent Living Movement for over 40 years. She is the author of a multi-layered memoir, The Question of David: A Disabled Mother's Journey Through Adoption, Family, and Life. Sherer Jacobson's blogs, articles, stories, and poetry have been published on websites in newspapers, magazines, and anthologies. In 2015, she was the subject of a New York Times online photo essay. She is the story consultant for the acclaimed Netflix documentary Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution, as well as a featured personality in the film. Sherer Jacobson has given presentations on disability and sexuality both nationally and worldwide. Her goal as a writer/educator is “Weaving the Disability Experience into the Tapestry of Living"

Pronouns: She/her 


 Cripping Up Sex: Today on In Bed with Eva we are chatting with Denise Jacobson!

 

Cripping Up Sex: Tell us your name, pronouns, and a bit about what you do.

 

Denise: Denise, she/her

 

Denise: I'm a writer

 

Cripping Up Sex: You went to Crip Camp which was an awesome camp for teens with disabilities in the 70s. Tell me more about what that was like for you.

 

Denise: it was the first time I felt accepted by my peers

 

Denise: before then I experienced the disability hierarchy

 

Denise: I think it was a product of its time.

 

Cripping Up Sex: That must have been awesome for you! When I watched Crip Camp, I was so jealous lol. I would have loved to go to a camp like that.

 

Cripping Up Sex: You then got your MA in human sexuality, why did you choose that field?

 

Denise: MA-- i had an affair which resulted in me getting vd

 

Denise: but the ER doc diagnosed appendicitis

 

Denise: they operated and there were complications

 

Denise: almost lost my life

 

Denise: I realize that I needed to find my voice and my power

 

Denise: and that I wanted to make sure my experience didn’t happen to others

 

Cripping Up Sex: That's awesome and so needed, Sadly, not much had changed. I still have to fight to get basic sexual health care because Doctors simply don't recognize disabled patients as sexual beings still.

 

Cripping Up Sex: While getting your degree, were there any materials on sexuality and disability that you came across?

 

Denise: There were few on sex and disability

 

Denise: Some films were available

 

Denise: in the ‘70s and ‘80s there was funding for training for healthcare folks, but then it dried up

 

Cripping Up Sex: That makes sense. What was the reaction of your classmates/teachers to your disability?

 

Denise: In the Ma program and my training people were accepting

 

Denise: they were open

 

Cripping Up Sex: On a different note, you wrote the book “The Questions of David” which is about the process of adopting and raising your son. What was the adoption process like for you and your husband Neil?

 

Denise: We started out thinking we'd adopt a toddler with a disability, but then we got a phone call from a friend of a friend about a baby up for adoption who might have a disability

 

Denise: the prospective parents bowed out

 

Denise: there was a fear the baby wouldn't find a home

 

Denise: So the process was really easy

 

Cripping Up Sex: That's good to hear. What were your fears about raising a child?

 

Denise: I worried about how demanding it would be to find help

 

Denise: and the fact that it took a lot of energy

 

Cripping Up Sex: Were those fears true?

 

Denise: It's amazing how resourceful you can be when you have to

 

Cripping Up Sex: Lol for sure!

 

Denise: It is important to build a network

 

Cripping Up Sex: What were your family and friends’ reactions to your adoption?

 

Denise: It ranged from some thought we were crazy to unspoken skepticism to excitement

 

Cripping Up Sex: That's unfortunate that people doubted you and your partner. Where do you want the disability community to go in terms of sexuality and parenting?

 

Denise: I want people to embrace sexuality as part of our identity because it strengthens us

 

Denise: in whatever we do

 

Cripping Up Sex: I totally agree, I always say if you own your sexuality you are more likely to own the power you have in other areas of your life as well.

 

Cripping Up Sex: So, that was my last question, this has been really fun Denise. What else would you like our readers to know?

 

Denise: THE QUESTION OF DAVID: A Disabled Mother's Journey Through Adoption, Family, and Life is available on amazon.com

 

Cripping Up Sex: Awesome, Thanks so much for chatting with me Denise! Have a great rest of your day

 

Denise: I'm plugging my book--lol

 

Denise: thank you for having me


                                shererd@aol.com

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