When it comes to access and inclusion measures in the United Kingdom, we’ve just about mastered ramps, automatic doorways and lowered desks. But mentioning disability and sex in the same sentence sends our prudish stereotype into overdrive. This taboo is not specific to us — the failure to see, value and appreciate disabled people as sexual beings is a global travesty. I’ve been fortunate enough to be aligned with two organizations working to change that: the disability awareness charity Enhance the UK and the UK’s leading sex toy manufacturer and designer, Rocks-Off.

Instead of running an advocacy campaign or raising awareness via social media, the two organizations collaborated on a more practical tactic — to develop and launch a line of inclusive sex toys and aids. After years of development, that line, Quest, is set to release in May. Here’s how it came to be.

The Quest product line was conceived when Enhance the UK CEO Jennie Williams met Ian Marshall, the director of Rocks-Off. Williams, a hearing aid user, has lived and worked around disability for years, while Marshall is newer to the issues. Both share a desire to empower sexual expression for those with additional access requirements and needs. “There are some brilliant products out there, but they don’t necessarily offer the complete user experience, from purchasing to opening and using the product,” says Williams.

Bringing the Quest vision to life hasn’t been easy. “Creating a truly inclusive line involves much more than including a remote control and selling the product in the same, inaccessible packaging,” Marshall says. That’s a hole several of Rocks-Off’s competitors fell into. Whether it’s figuring out the button configuration and color contrast or balancing function and form perfectly to be attractive to — and usable by — disabled and nondisabled consumers alike, Marshall and Williams discussed every minutia in hopes of optimizing the products for launch. Some product designs that garnered excitement and enthusiasm were 3D printed and prototyped and still did not make the cut.

The team agreed it’s vital for disabled people to be part of that quality control process. Dan Batten is one of the disabled community members who offered insights and feedback in focus groups. Batten has cerebral palsy and has been married to Becky, who is of shorter stature, for over 20 years. “I mentioned that an aid to lessen the need for gripping my penis directly would help,” he says. “Now, one of the toys in the Quest [line] aims to do just that. It was empowering to not just be heard, but to be an intrinsic and valued designer.”

Becky felt similarly about helping to design a panty vibrator that eliminated the need for prolonged reach range or fine motor skills. “I felt a mixture of excitement and trepidation when we were first asked to be involved, but it proved to be one of the most interesting and worthwhile things that I’ve ever done,” she says. “I was able to talk openly with other disabled people about my own frustrations with the mainstream toys available but — most importantly — we were all encouraged to put ourselves first and share what would work for us, and that’s what makes this important project so ground-breaking.”

Damian Weatherald has worked in the sex toy industry for over 15 years and is a pleasure activist with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. “As someone who speaks frequently about the lack of accessible products on the market, it has been both interesting and enlightening to be part of this design process,” he says. Because of his dexterity issues, he focused on wrist strap placement and button size and location. “What really excites me, though, is seeing a range designed to look as good as it feels.”

Pricing the product line has also tested the team. While refusing to charge disabled users more for their pleasure, Marshall and Williams admit that the intricacies of inclusive designs do have a financial impact. Getting this balance right has been a time-consuming challenge. When you add in the logistics obstacles presented by Brexit and COVID-19, there was plenty of room for this passion project to fail. “It makes you realize why companies don’t create inclusive lines,” Williams adds. “It’s hard work and about so much more than just the product itself.”

The line is Quest by name and is a quest by nature. Sexual pleasure is an ever-evolving adventure for many of us, and this line of inclusive sex toys and aids is both a learning curve and a labor of love. “This is a journey we want to embark on together with disabled people and their loved ones,” says Williams. “We will continue to work and listen to ensure that something is available for everyone. We are not professing to have covered every single base in this first launch and would really encourage people with lived experience to get in touch with us if there’s something in particular they’d like to see from future product drops. This is just the start of the quest!”