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Biography 2023

Alex Cowan (she/her) runs training workshops, speaks and consults on the interplay between disability, sex, intimacy, relationships and body image; as well as disability confidence in the workplace, improving client communication for health professionals.

 

Examples include; master class at Queens Square National Neurological Hospital, British Society of Sexual Medicine (BSSM), keynote speaker for The MS Trust and College of Sex and Relationship Therapists (COSRT) and has co-written The Sexual Respect Toolkit.

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Alex has written for publications, presented and appeared on television and radio, including Channel 4’s Sex Education Show and The Pleasure Podcast - “Alex Cowan, sex and skydiving – looking beyond disability”.

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Alex has devised and performed Wheelchair Burlesque Cabaret and was the first ever wheelchair user contestant in The Alternative Miss World.

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Alex has a BSc Hons in Psychology & Education. She is a wheelchair user with MS, married, and lives in London.

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CV 2023

Publications, Workshops and Presentations on Sex and Disability

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  • 'Sexual Respect Toolkit', co-written by Alex Cowan and Susan Quilliam (therapist and author of the updated Joy of Sex); an online resource for health professionals to raise and discuss issues of sex and sexuality

  • Speaker on Sex, Wellbeing and Disability, British Society for Sexual Medicine (BSSM) Conference

  • Alex has presented and appeared on television and radio, including on the Sex Education Show on Channel 4, and has devised and performed Wheelchair Burlesque Cabaret.. Was the first wheelchair user in The Alternative Miss World Contest. 

  • In 2020 broadcast on The Pleasure Podcast S3,ep9 "Alex Cowan sex and skydiving – looking beyond disability

  • interviewed and photographed Good Housekeeping magazine, May 2018 article on Body Confidence, (one of four women interviewed and photographed nude)

  • Alex has a BSc Hons in Psychology and Education

  • Workshop Presenter COSRT Autumn Conference

  • Sexual Dysfunction Masterclass: Body Image, Sexual Wellbeing
    and Disability, Department of Uro-neurology, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery and the MS Trust

  • Speaker on Sex, Wellbeing and Disability, British Society for Sexual Medicine (BSSM) Conference

  • Keynote speaker on Sex and Disability, MS Trust Annual Conference

  • Panellist, IMechE Conference, Incontinence: The Engineering Challenge, 2011, 2013, & 2015

  • Study Day, 'The Therapists Role in Managing Patient Relationships, Intimacy and Sexuality. From the Service Users and Professionals Perspectives', Sussex Association of Chartered Physiotherapists In Urology (ACPIN), presented by L Couldrick and A Cowan

  • Presentation: 'Altered Body Image and Sexual Wellbeing', Study Day, MS Trust 

  • 'Sexuality after Illness and Disability'. MA Students Training Day,  The Tavistock Centre for Couple Relationships, Trainers: Michelle Donald and Alex Cowan

  • Member and speaker for Sexual Health and Disability Alliance (SHADA)

  • European School Of Sexual Medicine (ESSM), Oxford Course, 2015

  • 'Managing long term indwelling urinary catheters', Authors: C Murphy, K Moore, M Fader, A Cowan, BMJ 2018; 363 doi: (Published 11 Oct 2018)

  • Good Housekeeping magazine, May 2018 article on Body Confidence, (one of four women interviewed and photographed nude)

  • 'How users of indwelling urinary catheters talk about sex and sexuality; a qualitative study', British Journal of General Practice. pages e246-e252, June 2014. Authors: Alison Chapple, Suman Prinjha and Helen Salisbury: Acknowledgements: Alex Cowan

  • Chapter: 'Enabling Disabled People to Have and Enjoy the Kind of Sexuality They Want', by L Couldrick and A Cowan, from 'Women, Sexuality and the Political Power of Pleasure', edited by Jolly et al, published Zed Books 2014 

  • 'Sexual Respect Toolkit', co-written by Alex Cowan and Susan Quilliam (therapist and author of the updated Joy of Sex); an online resource for health professionals to raise and discuss issues of sex and sexuality, 2013

  • 'MS, Sex, Sexuality and Intimacy'; online resource booklet by MS Healthcare Professionals, contribution and introduction written by Alex Cowan, 2014

  • Chapter: 'Can I Be Attractive?' by Alex Cowan, from 'Beauty in Every Form' by Richard Savage; chapter on beauty and sexuality from a disabled person’s perspective, 2011

 

Voluntary Work

  • Chair, North West London Wheelchair Services Service User Forum

  • Chair, Disability Services Committee, a national social care charity

  • Service User Representative, North West London Wheelchair Services Board

  • Patient Representative Ealing Standard Committee

  • Independent Living Group (ILG) Community Committee

  • Member PERF (patient engagement reference forum)  Forum Ealing

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