KANSAS CITY - Do you look at someone with a disability and realize they share the same desires as anyone else???
Katie Rodriguez Banister was in an auto accident in her early 20's that left her paralyzed from the chest down. As President of Access-4-All she works to educate and empower people with or without disabilities.
She was recently featured in a social media post by Humans of St. Louis. One of the messages she wants you to hear, is that she is still a woman.
"I was 25 years old. I got no training on sexuality or femininity or anything." Banister's therapists developed tools, so that she could apply her makeup on her own. "I didn't need to look fake, but being able to feel feminine again... when people look at you like you're an 'it', like you're asexual when you have a disability... it it was a game changer."
She met her husband Steve while both were doing advocacy work at the state capitol. They will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary this May. "I was one of the first people with disabilities talking about sexuality, and I looked at my husband and I was like, 'honey, is it OK if I do this and talk about this subject?' And he looks at me and goes, 'you're gonna do it anyway.' So you know, he's a smart man."
Banister says in any relationship it just takes communication and creativity.
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