International Intersex Awareness Day Workshop

The School of Human and Health Sciences (University of Huddersfield) is delighted to invite you to join us for a free event to mark International Intersex Awareness Day.

Intersex people and those with variations of sex characteristics (VSC) are born with a combination of sex characteristics (chromosomal, gonadal and/or anatomical) that do not fit the typical definitions of male or female. Intersex is controversially referred to by the term ‘DSD’ in medical settings. Recent research shows that there are many areas for improvement in healthcare provision to intersex people and those with VSC. It also reveals the lack of development of Equality and Diversity policies for intersex people, and the dearth of policy and practice tools to support practitioners, such as Social Workers, in their work with intersex people.

This event is suitable for people working in frontline healthcare settings (eg. nurses, midwives, GPs, health visitors, therapists, community mental health workers), social workers, other professionals such as the police, youth workers, community workers, care workers, equality and diversity officers, people working in the charitable sector, activists and advocates with an interest in social justice issues, and policy makers working in these areas. The session will provide a quick overview of the issues, and a short briefing about the large research programme we are running; the findings of this programme may have many implications for policy making and practice.

We will provide a certificate of attendance after the workshop for CPD purposes if wished. Spaces are limited so please book your ticket early to avoid disappointment.

The session will include two workshops, one about healthcare issues and one about social work and related areas of practice.

The healthcare session will start with a briefing about the healthcare situation in the UK, followed by opportunities for participants to contribute insights and to discuss issues. It will provide early findings from the healthcare research projects that are part of the INIA programme. It aims to explore good and interesting practices to take forwards in professional settings.

The social work session will address the lack of work to date about intersex issues, and will provide space for participants to tell us what they think the issues are, and what might be useful to consider for the development of intersex-inclusive social work practice. It will also provide an opportunity to hear about, and potentially get involved with, an exciting programme of Action Learning Sets, run by an intersex activist with extensive experience of workshop facilitation.

Programme:

9.30am: Welcome and introductions

10.00am: Overview of key issues by Surya Monro, Adeline Berry, and Sean Saifa Wall followed by Q&A

10.30 am: Introducing the Intersex: New Interdisciplinary Approaches (INIA) project, by Daria Abrosimova, Adeline Berry, Martin Gramc, Surya Monro, Sean Saifa Wall and Kate Wood followed by Q&A

11.00am: Break

11.15am: Workshops (parallel sessions)

12.15pm: Feedback from workshops, and summary of our thoughts. Opportunity for participants to flag up relevant resources and events. Thanks and close.

The webinar will take place on Microsoft Teams. The meeting link and passcode will be shared with you via email prior to the event. It is only for you to use please, and is not to be shared.

If you have difficulties booking your ticket or joining the event, please email HHS-RE@hud.ac.uk. If you don't receive the email with the joining link on the event day, please have a look in your junk box.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 859869 “Intersex – New Interdisciplinary Approaches” (INIA)