Sexual Education and High School Students with ASD - Part 4

High school is a time when children start to form relationships.  Just because a child has ASD does not mean that he will not want or will not have a relationship.  It is important that children with ASD understand what a healthy relationship looks like.  It is a good idea for parents to help their children role play scenarios such as asking a person on a date, accepting a date, and what behavior on a date should look like.   It is important at this stage that you also talk with your child about sexual relationships.  Children with ASD need to know what a healthy sexual relationship is.  For children who are not interested or not able to date, it is still important to talk about sex.  It is important that your child with ASD knows what sex is, and when it is appropriate, for their safety and protection.  Continue the conversations about privacy and personal boundaries that you started when your child was young.  Use materials that are appropriate for your child's development.  It can be helpful to see what the school is teaching in health so that you can support and reinforce it at home.

Growing Up On the Spectrum: A Guide to Life, Love, and Learning for Teens and Young Adults with Asperger's/ Lynn Kern Koegel and Claire LaZebnik; additional material and illustrations by Andrew LaZebnik. Viking, 2009.