Sexual Education and ASD- Part 1
"Children learn about sex from a very young age even if we don't talk with them about it. Many of the things they learn are incorrect, confusing and frightening. In a world where sex is used to sell cars and ice creams, and celebrities private lives become everybody's business, we cannot afford not to talk to our children about sex and relationships if we're going to help them make sense of it at all."
-National Children's Bureau Sex Education Forum 2003.
The quote above comes from a parent support guide that it is not autism specific. It is important that parents speak to their children with autism about sexuality, their bodies and relationships. The unique challenges of a child with autism spectrum disorder means that ordinary conversation and social interaction can lead to many misunderstandings. Parents spend a lot of time trying to explain the world to your children. Your explanations and support are even more important when it comes to talking to your children about puberty, sex and relationships.
It is important that you use age appropriate topics with your child. For example, when talking to a young child, you want to talk about body parts and right touch/wrong touch. As children get older, you can get more into how their bodies are changing and how that might make them feel. For children who are higher functioning or older it is important to talk about relationships. Because your child's body will develop with his/her chronological age, it is important to discuss appropriate topics when they are age appropriate. Materials can be adapted to make the conversations more meaningful for your child.
Book of the Week:
The Everything Parent's Guide to Children with Asperger Syndrome: Help, Hope, and Guidance / William Stillman. Adams Media, 2005.
Description: While children with Asperger's are generally of average or above average intelligence, they experience challenges with social skills, communication, and coordination, among other issues. This book is an informative resource that helps parents to recognize areas in which their child needs support. Filled with helpful hints and practical guidance, this authoritative work is designed to provide parents with the latest information on the best treatments and therapies available, education options, and ways to make life easier for parent and child on a day to day basis. Parents learn how to begin the process of seeking diagnosis, introduce their child to social settings, build positive relationships inside and outside the family unit, prepare their child for adolescence and adulthood.
This book is in the SESA Library. You may search the library catalog via the SESA website (http://www.sesa.org), or contact Anne directly by email at afreitag@sesa.org or by phone at 907-334-1301.
