TORONTO — In the film The Sessions, a man paralyzed by childhood polio and mostly confined to an iron lung seeks the help of a sexual surrogate to learn how to fulfil his yearnings for physical intimacy.

The movie tells the real-life story of U.S. writer-poet Mark O’Brien (John Hawkes) and how he lost his virginity at age 38 under the gentle guidance of Cheryl Cohen Greene, a certified sexual surrogate portrayed by Helen Hunt.

Pulling no visual punches The Sessions dispels the widespread notion that people with disabilities have no interest in physical intimacy, while encouraging them to embrace their sexuality in whatever way they can.

The Los Angeles-based International Professional Surrogates Association (IPSA) says only a few dozen sexual partner surrogates are now practising in the United States.

“It’s not very common anymore, it was more common in the ’70s,” says Cory Silverberg, co-author of The Ultimate Guide to Sex and Disability, written with fellow Canadians Fran Odette and Dr. Miriam Kaufman.

Silverberg, a sexuality educator working in New York, says he’s not aware of any certified sexual surrogates offering services in Canada or affiliated with the IPSA.

The IPSA points out that surrogate partner therapy, based on methods pioneered in 1970 by Masters and Johnson, includes a client, a sex therapist and surrogate partner working together as a team. Clients can include people with disabilities or anyone with issues related to sexual expression.

Sex therapists talk one-on-one with patients, while surrogate partners work with the clients on relaxation, communication, and sensual and sexual touch.

“Sex therapists are all talk. Surrogate partners are talk and touch,” association president Vena Blanchard explains on the IPSA website.

In Canada, there are a number of other avenues for people with disabilities to explore their sexuality.

At the Come As You Are sex shop in downtown Toronto, co-owner Sarah Forbes-Roberts says staff go out of their way to help customers with disabilities, creating a comfortable and supportive environment.

“From the day when we first opened 16 years ago, our space has always been physically accessible,” says Forbes-Roberts. “It seems like a minor thing, but it’s a huge deal. At most retail stores, most people with disabilities can’t get through the door if they’re using a wheelchair.”

Many of the shelves and racks displaying products — from sex toys and physical aids to books on sexuality — are located at eye level of customers in wheelchairs.

“A lot of people have multiple disabilities. There are lots of kinds of disabilities. So we really work with the person on a one-on-one basis to figure out what their needs are.”

“Our philosophy is that everybody is entitled to explore healthy sexuality, no matter what that means to them — and that means something different for everybody.”

The Sexual Awakening Centre in Toronto also welcomes people with disabilities, offering workshops, lectures, training courses and private coaching.

“We will work with anybody who is inquiring about exploring their sexuality,” says owner Atia Marie, a former sex worker who uses only her first two names.