Among Friends

03/19/2026

Many areas in the USA penalize couples at a state policy level, reducing the humanity of someone with ID/DD to infancy. Your awareness and support help to shape the kind of communities we all live in.

As you vote, stay informed and vocal about the policies and leaders that impact people with disabilities, relationships, and the right to live full, self-directed lives.

Everyone deserves the freedom to build meaningful relationships, choose their partner, and live together with dignity and support. When we advocate for these rights, we’re advocating for stronger, more inclusive communities for everyone.

Stay informed. Vote with care. And stand up for the right of all people to love, connect, and belong. Do you know your States Live-in Policies?

03/17/2026

When harmful language is used in spaces of power, silence can normalize it.

After Leonard Christian used the R-word during a legislative debate in the Washington State Senate, lawmakers and advocates didn’t stay quiet. Colleagues immediately spoke out, calling the language unacceptable, and leaders later removed him from the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families Oversight Board.

Words matter. Especially from those who make decisions impacting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

We’re grateful to the leaders, advocates, and community members who spoke up in real time to defend dignity and respect for people with disabilities. Progress happens when people refuse to let harmful language go unchallenged.

03/12/2026

We believe in hyping people up around here.
May your day be that good. 🍑💛

03/11/2026

At Among Friends, we believe every teen deserves access to clear, respectful, and inclusive sexual education - including teens with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
When families are supported with the right tools and have open conversations, young people gain confidence, understand consent, build healthy relationships, and strengthen self-advocacy skills.
S*x education isn’t optional. It’s empowerment. 💙
Learn more and explore resources at among-friends.org.
*xualHealthEducation

03/05/2026

We have a dynamic group of directors that are eager to lead and advocate for a better, more accepting future for every person. Get to know us a little better, and then tell us: What gives you hope for the future in the disability world?

03/03/2026

At Among Friends, we believe the greatest disability is not seeing a person for all of who they are. This month and every month, we choose to celebrate more.

02/26/2026

At Among Friends, we believe connection and sexual expression are part of being human - and understanding experiences that don’t fit familiar boxes is a step toward compassion, not confusion.

Today, we’re exploring objectophilia - when someone forms a deep emotional or romantic attachment to objects. Some people experience this as meaningful and real, and research suggests it may be linked to neurodivergence or sensory variation - not pathology. Objectophilia isn’t listed as a disorder in the DSM‑5, and is different from a sexual fe**sh because the connection is emotional, whether or not there is a sexual connection.

Our approach at Among Friends is grounded in rights‑based, trauma‑informed, person‑centered support. When we encounter experiences that feel unfamiliar, we don’t ask “Is this strange?”; we ask, “Is it safe, healthy, and legal?” Understanding doesn’t require experience or familiarity, but it does require empathy.

Thank you for learning with us - let’s keep moving toward curiosity and dignity in how we talk about all forms of meaningful connection and identity.

*xualityEducation

02/25/2026

This image captures some of what caregiving can look like - the appointments, the IEPs, the advocacy, the burnout, the love.
But it doesn’t capture every story.

Every caregiver’s journey is different. Some experiences are visible. Many are not.

To the parents, family members, teachers, healthcare providers, and support staff who show up every day in ways big and small - we see you.

Last week was National Caregivers Day, and we want to honor the full spectrum of caregiving every day of the year. 💙

02/17/2026

People with intellectual & developmental disabilities (IDD) have always had diverse sexual orientations and gender identities - even when society chose not to see them.
Too often, assumptions of asexuality or cisgender identity erase lived experiences, limit self-expression, and harm emotional well-being. Research is clear: LGBTQ+ people with IDD deserve affirmation, education, and safe spaces to explore who they are.
True inclusion means:
✨ Training caregivers and professionals
✨ Inclusive sexuality & gender education
✨ Accessible LGBTQ+ community spaces
✨ Listening, respecting, and affirming identity
✨ Supporting gender self-determination
Supporting sexual orientation and gender identity in people with IDD isn’t optional - it’s about dignity, mental health, and human rights.

02/12/2026

For Black History Month, we honor Lois Curtis - an artist, advocate, and civil rights trailblazer.

In 1999, Lois Curtis was a plaintiff in Olmstead v. L.C., the Supreme Court case that affirmed people with disabilities have the right to receive services in the most integrated setting possible. Her case helped establish that unnecessary institutionalization is a form of discrimination under the ADA.

Lois Curtis’ legacy lives on in every fight for disability justice, community living, and self-determination.

09/29/2025

Too often, people with IDD are overlooked when it comes to conversations about sexual orientation and gender identity. The most recent Among Friends blog post challenges those assumptions and offers practical ways to create affirming, inclusive spaces where every person can be fully seen and supported.

Highlights include:
🩷Breaking down myths and stigma
🧡 Steps caregivers and professionals can take to affirm identity
🩷 Why honoring identity is central to dignity, health, and belonging

💬 We’d love to hear from you:
What’s one thing YOU do (or would like to do) to help create safe, supportive spaces for LGBTQ+ individuals with IDD? Share in the comments below!

People with IDD have often been assumed to be asexual, heterosexual, or cisgender—assumptions that erase their identities, needs, and humanity ( LGBTQ+ People | Intellectual Disability Mental Health Connect , The Arc ).