Disability and sex worker, rights activists and educators identified a lack of knowledge and appropriate resources guiding better practice in the provision of sex services to people with disabilities. The Touching Base project evolved in 2001 through a forum that brought together sex workers, people with disabilities, and their support networks. Touching Base Incorporated operates under the principle that people with a disability have the intrinsic right to sexual expression, to develop relationships, have sex, explore and express their sexuality and achieve intimacy without personal or systemic barriers. Touching Base challenges barriers such as discriminatory workplace policies that impede the right of a person with a disability to choose to pursue the sexual lifestyle of their choice. Further, Touching Base negates the concept that sex workers are the only option available for people with disabilities seeking to explore intimacy or express sexual desires.
The website, developed in collaboration with students and staff from the University of Technology, Sydney, provides a resource of information, specifically designed to be accessible to people with impairments of mobility, dexterity and vision. It presents information for sex workers, clients and service providers. This website is unique in Australia. Although designed for local users, website-logs significantly show that www.touchingbase.org is being accessed by citizens from a diverse range of countries including Belgium, Peru, Singapore and USA.
www.touchingbase.org provides a rare assembly of resources that are being regularly utilised internationally. Future plans include the creation of a database of local accessible sex services premises and experienced or trained sex workers or surrogates.
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