Nina de Vries (born 21 January 1961 in IJmuiden, the Netherlands) is a Dutch sexual assistant who has lived and worked in Germany since 1990.

Over the years her focus has shifted to the work with severely disabled people as well as the education and training of sexual assistants.

"[1] When she was 17 years old and feeling vulnerable after her mother's death, she saw a report on Dutch television about so-called "sex helpers".

She did not know that this encounter with people who fearlessly face the hopelessness and despair of other human beings would become an impetus for her, and that she would become a fighter for the sexual self-determination of those who can not help themselves.

You have to drive around the area in a wheelchair for a day, then you will realize where we really stand socially.Currently de Vries' clients are primarily people with multiple disabilities, with autism as well as persons who have significant cognitive or dementia disorders.

[1] Furthermore, on behalf of the Center for Disability and Sexuality (German: Fachstelle für Behinderung und Sexualität, FABS) in Basel, she trained ten sex therapists of both genders for six months.

Research associations are involved, as are facilities for disabled people,[9] and nursing homes which are beginning to approach this largely taboo subject.

[11] When De Vries began to work in the field of Sexual Assistance and Education she was "surprised" by the response in Germany as she knew that "in the Netherlands there is more open-mindedness.

At the Integra Conference for Care, Therapy and Rehabilitation[13] in Wels, Austria, where she presented her training concept, she gave a definition for this profession: Sexual companions are women and men who – based on their own healthy[14] and conscious motivation – help people with physical, emotional or mental impairments/disabilities experience their sexuality and make this their profession.

They enable people who need a gentle, creative approach in the field of sexuality due to their situation (e.g. illness, accident, life history), giving them an intimate, sensual and erotic experience as well as a positive body feeling.

[3] With these simple words de Vries describes her profession, stating that with such assistance a paid sexual service is offered, similar to prostitution.

De Vries is convinced that these relationships create special preconditions for the profession and should be taken into account in the training.

On one hand, she perceives a sexual assistant not as a substitute partner for the client, but rather someone offering a very personal, individually designed relationship.