The Autism Society Event and Education Recordings Archive

Parenting and supporting girls with ASDs can be challenging. Despite the many questions asked by professionals, educators, and family members about girls with ASDs, there are unfortunately few answers. Until very recently, little attention has been paid to sex differences in ASDs. Using material from our book Girls Growing Up on the Autism Spectrum, case presentations, and examples from our girls clinic program, this session will focus on interventions and strategies that address the unique issues facing girls with ASDs. Over the past ten years, the following statement has become a familiar refrain that we have heard from parents, professionals, and educators:

“I can’t seem to find any resources geared towards girls with autism…”

In response, we have developed a comprehensive “Girls with ASDs” program at our center with the aim of better understanding the experiences of females on the autism spectrum and creating effective programming to assist families and their daughters in meeting life’s challenges. A recent increase in media attention including articles in the NY Times, Newsweek and Psychology Today and news coverage on ABC’s Night Line, has resulted in the spotlight finally being turned to differences between girls and boys with ASDs, and what these differences mean for issues related to assessment and treatment. Despite the increase in interest, however, there remains limited information about addressing sex-related differences in a practical way. In this session, an overview will be presented of what is currently known about females with ASDs, including research and theory regarding differences in symptom presentation, developmental trajectories, and prevalence rates. Detecting ASDs in girls will be discussed, including the need for careful examination of communication skills, cognitive abilities, social awareness and motivation, motor skills, behavior, and play skills and interests. Consistent with observations made at our center, recent research has noted that the interests of girls with ASDs, while intensive, tend to be reflective of the interests of girls in the general population (e.g., Disney, horses and other animals, books and Broadway musicals). Boys with ASDs are more likely to demonstrate odd or atypical interests. Also of interest is the role played by societal expectations for females and the coping skills girls may develop based on early gender socialization.

In our work, we have learned how important it is for girls and parents to connect and learn from each other; we have seen how damaging it can be when girls feel isolated and rejected and begin to withdraw from their family members and peers. This presentation will provide parents, educators, and other professionals with a tool kit for addressing the unique issues faced by girls with ASDs throughout elementary school and their entry into adolescence. Topics include:

·         Girl bullying and the landscape of female friendships
·         Puberty, hygiene and grooming
·         Menstruation and PMS
·         Sexuality development
·         Personal safety
·         Self-perception and confidence
·         Media, fashion and “fitting in”
·         Mental health
·         Coping with the culture of gender
·         ·         ·         ·         ·         ·         ·         ·         ·        

To highlight the above issues, including effective techniques and strategies, we will share case examples of applications from our center’s Girls with ASDs program and our extensive interviews with parents of girls with ASDs. Personal experiences and suggestions from mothers, their daughters, and women with ASDs will be highlighted. Lastly, this session will discuss strategies for bringing girls with ASDs and their families together. We will discuss how to develop and run “girl talk” groups and associated parent groups. Our program is unique to families and daughters in learning not only skills and strategies, but more importantly, a sense of validation and connection: you are not alone.

In this session, we hope to provide families and the professionals and educators who work with their daughters important information and tools for helping girls with autism spectrum disorders reach their full potential.

Learning Objectives: