Kathy O'Connell

Kathy O'Connell is one of the country's leading advocates for helping people with disabilities create healthy romantic relationships and sexual identities. Leading the charge against what she calls "Sexual Abelism" that makes individuals with disabilities falsely believe they are not worthy of a beautiful, healthy romantic relationship. O'Connell has two Masters degrees in Rehabilitation Counseling and Inclusive Education from Syracuse University.

O'Connell has been acknowledged by the Cerebral Palsy Association of New York, Syracuse University and by the New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council. O'Connell is the author of the book, Firewalk: Embracing Different Abilities, published by Balboa Press a Division of Hay House. 

As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in New York (LHMC), she has created her own counseling and consulting practice for people with and without disabilities for over 25 years. As a professional speaker she has spoken to tens of thousands of people across the country.