Stephanie Mitelman Bercovitch (born February 25, 1976) is a Canadian

sex education Sex education, also known as sexual education, sexuality education or sex ed, is the instruction of issues relating to human sexuality, including human sexual anatomy, Human sexual activity, sexual activity, sexual reproduction, safe sex, birth ...

and

family life education Family life education is defined by the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) as "the educational effort to strengthen individual and family life through a family perspective. The objective of Family Life Education is to enrich and improve ...

professor, public speaker, entrepreneur, sex educator, and author specializing in

special education Special education (also known as special-needs education, aided education, alternative provision, exceptional student education, special ed., SDC, and SPED) is the practice of educating students in a way that accommodates their individual di ...

, particularly for youth with

autism spectrum disorders Autism, also known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by differences or difficulties in social communication and interaction, a preference for predictability and routine, sensory processing di ...

. She is the owner and creator of Senseez Pillows, a company making vibrating pillows for people with sensory needs, and Sex Ed Mart, a sex education publishing and distribution company specializing in sex education for youth with special needs. Bercovitch also runs a private sex education practice for youth on the

autism Autism, also known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by differences or difficulties in social communication and interaction, a preference for predictability and routine, sensory processing d ...

spectrum, their parents, and couples who are neurologically diverse. Bercovitch is currently the only

sex educator Sex education, also known as sexual education, sexuality education or sex ed, is the instruction of issues relating to human sexuality, including human sexual anatomy, Human sexual activity, sexual activity, sexual reproduction, safe sex, birth ...

Montreal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...

certified by the

American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists The American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) is a professional organization for sexuality educators, sexuality counselors and sex therapists. History and overview AASECT ( ) was founded by Patricia Schill ...

. Previously, she was a part-time professor of

human sexuality Human sexuality is the way people experience and express themselves sexually. This involves biological, psychological, physical, erotic, emotional, social, or spiritual feelings and behaviors. Because it is a broad term, which has varied ...

McGill University McGill University (French: Université McGill) is an English-language public research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1821 by royal charter,Frost, Stanley Brice. ''McGill University, Vol. I. For the Advancement of Learning, ...

in the Department of Educational Counselling and Psychology, and is currently a part of the Part Time Faculty at

Concordia University Concordia University () is a Public university, public English-language research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1974 following the merger of Loyola College (Montreal), Loyola College and Sir George Williams Universit ...

in the Department of Applied

Human Sciences Human science (or human sciences in the plural) studies the philosophical, biological, social, justice, and cultural aspects of human life. Human science aims to expand the understanding of the human world through a broad interdisciplinary appro ...

Education career

Mitelman taught a graduate course at

in the department of Educational Counselling and Psychology for 17 years. Currently, Mitelman is a part of the Part Time Faculty at

, where she has been teaching in the Applied Human Sciences department for 18 years. Mitelman was nominated for a Teaching Award in Excellence, as well as the 2013 First Tracks Award for Innovation in

Sexology Sexology is the scientific study of human sexuality, including human sexual interests, Human sexual activity, behaviors, and functions. The term ''sexology'' does not generally refer to the non-scientific study of sexuality, such as social crit ...

for her work in making sex ed accessible for people on the

autism spectrum Autism, also known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by differences or difficulties in social communication and interaction, a preference for predictability and routine, sensory processing d ...

Sex education

Bercovitch founded Sexpressions in 2000, which became Sex Ed Mart in 2017. The company provides sex education for students, and training for teachers and nurses across Canada. She also sells tools and activities to teach about sexual health, including her own publications, through the online Sex Ed Mart marketplace. Through Sexpressions, she wrote and published a full line of teaching tools, including a sexual health trivia game and anatomy posters. Bercovitch was editor-in-chief of ''Changes, Changes, Changes: Great Methods for Puberty Education'', working with

William J. Taverner William J. Taverner, MA, commonly known as Bill Taverner, is the editor of the ''American Journal of Sexuality Education'' and the executive director of the Center for Sex Education (CSE). He has co-authored numerous sexuality education manuals, in ...

and associate editors. The book was released in 2014 by the Center for Sex Education in the United States and Sexpressions in Canada. She continues Sexpressions as a private sexuality education services for individuals, couples and families with special needs. In 2004, Bercovitch and a group she organized re-launched the Sexual Health Network of Quebec (SHNQ) to replace Planned Parenthood Montreal, which had dissolved in 1998. By 2006, SHNQ was affiliated with the Canadian Federation for Sexual Health and, through them, the

International Planned Parenthood Federation The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is a global non-governmental organisation with the broad aims of promoting sexual and reproductive health, and advocating the right of individuals to make their own choices in family planni ...

. They now offer sex education sessions for free to schools across Montreal, and advocate for the re-introduction of mandatory sex education in Quebec. Bercovitch regularly speaks and trains on sex education for people on the autism spectrum. She has given workshops for parents and teachers at conferences and organizations in the United States and Canada, including Montreal's Gold Center and the Southeastern Washington Autism Conference.

Senseez Pillows

Bercovitch founded Senseez Pillows in 2012, after making the first vibrating pillow in her basement to help her son with his special needs. The company quickly grew, creating pillows for children with sensory needs, particularly those with autism,

ADHD Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, and emotional dysregulation that are excessive and pervasive, impairing in multiple ...

, and

sensory processing disorder Sensory processing disorder (SPD), formerly known as sensory integration dysfunction, is a condition in which multisensory input is not adequately processed in order to provide appropriate responses to the demands of the environment. Sensory ...

. In 2013, Bercovitch appeared on

CBC CBC may refer to: Media * Cadena Baja California or Grupo Cadena, a radio and television broadcaster in Mexico * Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Canada's radio and television public broadcaster ** CBC Television ** CBC Radio One ** CBC Music ** ...

's ''

Dragon's Den ''Dragons' Den'' is a reality television program format in which entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to a panel of venture capitalists in the hope of securing investment finance from them. The program originated in 2001 in Japan, where it i ...

'' web episodes, successfully pitching her pillows to investors. Working with Lekotek in 2014, Bercovitch helped demonstrate the clinical benefits of the pillows and their vibration as a therapeutic and

occupational therapy Occupational therapy (OT), also known as ergotherapy, is a healthcare profession. Ergotherapy is derived from the Greek wiktionary:ergon, ergon which is allied to work, to act and to be active. Occupational therapy is based on the assumption t ...

tool for youth on the autism spectrum. The study found that Senseez helped in daily life for 72% of the participating children. Bercovitch received 2015 Gold Stevie Award for Female Entrepreneur of the Year for her success with Senseez Pillows. She and Senseez Pillows were featured on the cover of ''Montreal Families Magazine'' in March 2016.Montreal Families: Montreal mom invents cushion that helps kids sit still
/ref> Bercovitch sold the company in 2019.

References

External links

Sex Ed Mart
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mitelman, Stephanie 1976 births Autism researchers Living people Academic staff of Concordia University Academic staff of McGill University Sex educators