The Healthy Sexuality Project at the Institute on Disabilities (Temple University)

The Healthy Sexuality Project at the Institute on Disabilities with Nova McGiffert, Healthy Sexuality Project Coordinator, and Izzy Kaufman, MEd, Sexuality Educator and AT Program Coordinator.

The Healthy Sexuality Project provides holistic sexuality education, services, and research for disabled folks in PA, families, caregivers and professionals. The Healthy Sexuality Project is a program within the Health Equity team at the Institute on Disabilities.

Nova McGiffert (she/her) is the Healthy Sexuality Project Coordinator at the Institute on Disabilities. She provides holistic sexuality education for disabled folks, families/caregivers, and professionals. Nova facilitates a statewide network of sexuality and disability educators, trainers, and providers to improve positive sexuality education for disabled Pennsylvanians. She has a BA in Sociology and more than 20 years of experience working with disabled folks as a family member, direct service provider, supports coordinator, educator, and community organizer.

Izzy Kaufman works at Temple University as a Program Coordinator at the Institute on Disabilities with TechOWL and the Health Equity team. At TechOWL they run a program called Technology Champions where young adults from PA learn about accessible technology and how to use it more in their daily lives. Izzy provides comprehensive sexuality education to people with disabilities, professionals and family. Izzy trains on healthy relationships, gender identity, safety plans, sexual self-advocacy and more. Izzy has a Master of Education in Human Sexuality Studies from Widener University. Izzy is a proud disabled person and is President of the Disability Pride Pennsylvania Board. Izzy has been working in the field for over 7 years.

Jaggar DeMarco is a PhD student in Media and Communication program and a graduate trainee at the Institute on Disabilities at Temple University in Philadelphia. He currently holds an MA in Media and Strategic Communications and a BA in Political Communications from George Washington University. While living in DC, he was a policy intern at the National Council for Independent Living and the Department of Labor. As a self-identifying disabled individual, his work is dedicated to excavating disabled and crip lives to illuminate their poetic, political, and creative potential. His research and creative media endeavors explore the intersections of disability arts, culture, and politics.