Amie O'Shea

Amie O'Shea is a Lecturer in Disability & Inclusion at Deakin University, specializing in the intersections of gender, sexuality, and disability. Her work centers on meaningful research engagement and inclusive methodologies, particularly focusing on LGBTQ+ people with intellectual disabilities, Deafness, and Auslan communities.

Her research interests emphasize gender and disability, sexuality and disability, and inclusive research methodologies. O'Shea actively challenges the erasure of LGBTQ+ people with intellectual disabilities from mainstream discourse, highlighting their unique experiences with discrimination, harassment, and barriers to community participation. Her work demonstrates how

• stigma compounds marginalization
• support workers require better training on LGBTQ+ identities
• inclusive representation in media remains critically lacking

O'Shea's publications reveal a strong focus on sexual health education, mental health outcomes, and human rights frameworks for people with disabilities. Her recent work examines pandemic impacts on disability communities, communication access for Deaf Australians, and co-designed sexuality education resources developed with people with intellectual disabilities themselves.

As a researcher-advocate, O'Shea partners with organizations like Rainbow Rights & Advocacy and Inclusion Melbourne, centering the voices of people with lived experience. Her approach fundamentally reverses traditional research power dynamics by positioning people with intellectual disability as experts who provide guidance to policymakers, service providers, and families.

O'Shea actively contributes to disability rights through media engagement, including articles for The Conversation addressing critical gaps in representation and support systems for LGBTQ+ people with disabilities. Her work consistently advocates for

• respect for gender and sexuality identities
• improved organizational cultures across disability services
• meaningful inclusion in community events and policy development