Teach your young adult about sexuality and relationships
Begin by asking your local school system what type of Family Life Education (human sexuality) they offer. Keep in mind that you should think ahead of the stage your young adult is in. Sexual issues should address the person’s biological age.
Sexuality Education Overview by Dr. Peter Gerhardt
It goes without saying that individuals with ASD are sexual beings. Unfortunately, the biological, physiological, and behavioral aspects of human sexuality, in general, remain significantly under-researched, so it is not surprising that there is even less research when it comes to sexuality and individuals on the autism spectrum.
This knowledge gap, when added to the social, cultural, religious, and legal restrictions that often govern the display of sexual behavior, results in an area of intervention about which we have limited evidence-based information as to
1) the content of instruction in sex education,
2) the process of instruction or intervention in sex education,
3) the timing of intervention in sex education or,
4) the development of effective interventions to prevent sexual abuse.
Autism Research Institute – Sexuality and Autism
Webinar: “Sexuality & ASD: How to Address Sex Education for People with ASD”
The Our Whole Lives Curriculum
Our Whole Lives helps participants make informed and responsible decisions about their sexual health and behavior. It equips participants with accurate, age-appropriate information in six subject areas: human development, relationships, personal skills, sexual behavior, sexual health, and society and culture. Grounded in a holistic view of sexuality, Our Whole Lives not only provides facts about anatomy and human development, but also helps participants clarify their values, build interpersonal skills, and understand the spiritual, emotional, and social aspects of sexuality.
Medical and Health Resources for Females
The Sexuality Information and Education Council of the US (SIECUS)
SIECUS educates, advocates, and informs. They help schools and communities develop comprehensive sexuality education curricula, train teachers to provide high quality sexuality education in the classroom, and help parents talk to their kids about sex. They educate policymakers and their staff about issues related to sexuality and train advocates on the local, state, and national levels to build support for comprehensive sexuality education and access to reproductive health information and services. They produce countless resources for a wide variety of audiences—from policymakers to parents, healthcare providers to teens—to ensure that everyone has access to accurate, complete, and up-to-date information about sexuality.
The Scarlet Teen Website
Scarlet Teen is an independent, grassroots sexuality education and support organization and website. Founded in 1998, Scarleteen.com is visited by around three-quarters of a million diverse people each month worldwide, most between the ages of 15 and 25. They provide articles, interactive services, referrals, outreach, mentoring, and leadership.
This feature issue contains informational articles and personal stories on self-advocacy in sexuality, the parents’ role in sexual education, and preparing your child for puberty.
Healthy Relationships, Sexuality, and Disability
Organization for Autism Research – Sex Ed. for Self-Advocates
This guide is a sexuality and sex education resource written specifically for people on the autism spectrum age 15 and up. People on the autism spectrum sometimes don’t have the chance to learn about sexuality and sex in ways that work for them, so OAR created this guide as a starting point to change that.