Welcome

Hi, I'm Kayla — dating coach, sexuality educator, and founder of Dating Unmasked Co.

I started this work as a teacher. Later, my own dating experience as a neurodivergent person shaped it even more.

In my first few years teaching adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), I had many conversations with my students. We talked about our classes like job skills, art, and cooking. Topics often became about dating, marriage, and sex. My students felt the same excitement, joy, and stress about relationships as everyone else I knew.

My students wanted to talk about relationships and kissing but many people in their lives avoided it. I noticed dating with a disability was treated like a taboo topic. Very few of my adult students had ever taken a sex education class in school.

Everyone learns about relationships from somewhere — family, friends, school, media, or porn. Some sources are healthy and educational. Some are not. Even healthy and educational lessons aren't usually built for neurodivergent brains. That's when I knew I had to advocate for relationship education for people with disabilities.

I went back to college and earned my Sexuality Educator Certificate. Then I spent years researching, building, and teaching relationship and sex ed curriculum for adults with IDD. I teach healthy relationship and sex education that works for brains that are built differently.

My story with unmasking

Unmasking means: letting go of expectations that don't fit you. Showing your true self, disability traits and all. Meeting your own needs, instead of hiding them to make other people comfortable.

For my first 15 years of dating, I did not know I was wearing a "mask." The mask hid my own neurodivergence. I thought dating had to look a certain way. I tried to copy my peers and the media. So I hid my needs, my challenges, and my questions. This made dating harder.

Then I learned more about my own disability and was honest about my challenges. I started to unmask. I started accommodated for my own needs. I showed my true self and everything changed - how I take care of myself, how I date, how I experience romance and intimacy.

My relationships with friends, family, and partners are different now too. My connections are not focused on what society expects. When I date, some things look different than how my peers date. I pick being different. I am happy to choose what works for me and for each relationship.

My why

Everyone deserves sex education that fits who they are. This is true no matter someone's disability, neurotype, or background. Education should fit your brain and body. It should fit your strengths, challenges, and life. This education should be accessible and free of shame.

I want you to feel comfortable unmasking. I want you to experience love and companionship as your true self. Dating Unmasked coaching and education is for everyone — people with IDD, caregivers, and support workers. You are welcome here. This is why I do what I do.

We all deserve to connect, date, and love in our own way. Unmasked.

Mission

To teach sexuality education centered on who you are — your goals, strengths, challenges, and needs.

Values

Authenticity inclusivity

dignity curiosity

accessibility

Qualifications

  • Sexuality Educator Certificate

  • B.S. in Family Studies

  • Seven years of experience teaching adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD)

  • Researched, designed, and delivered a multilevel relationship and sexuality education curriculum for adults with IDD