The Autism Society Event and Education Recordings Archive
9144 Sexuality and the Spectrum: Lessons on Sex, Dating, and Love, Autism Style
Friday, July 15, 2016: 10:45 AM-12:00 PM
​Galerie 1 (New Orleans Marriott)
Individuals with ASD are sexual beings, yet often not taught the necessary skills to be successful in relationships. This session interweaves a firsthand narrative from a woman with ASD with strategies for discussing sexuality, navigating relationships, avoiding victimization, and bolstering a sense of empowerment in children and clients.
Individuals on the autism spectrum are sexual beings, yet they are often not taught the necessary skills to be successful in romantic relationships. Sexuality is a difficult yet necessary topic to address, and individuals on the spectrum need and deserve honest, accurate information to help them make the best possible life choices. This session interweaves a firsthand personal narrative from a woman on the autism spectrum with strategies for parents and professionals to effectively and appropriately discuss sexuality, and gives an inside perspective on both the triumphs and heartbreaks of young adulthood. The differences between males and females with autism and the experiences faced at adolescence and puberty will also be discussed. In addition, participants will learn about the potential for using principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to teach these skills and challenges that may arise in doing so. Participants will also learn tools to aid in navigating relationships, avoiding victimization, and bolstering a sense of empowerment in their children and clients.
Learning Objectives:
- Discuss ways to understand the differences between girls and boys on the autism spectrum and the challenges faced as individuals on the spectrum encounter adolescence, puberty and young adulthood.
- Assess the potential for using Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to teach dating/sexuality skills to individuals on the autism spectrum and the challenges that can arise from doing so.
Track: Lifespan 4 - Adulthood
Content Area: Self-Determination and Independence
Presenter:
Amy Gravino, M.A., CAS
A.S.C.O.T. Coaching, LLC
Amy Gravino is a Certified Autism Specialist and president of A.S.C.O.T. Coaching. Ms. Gravino is an autism consultant, college coach, speaker, and author. She has her Master's degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Caldwell University and has served on the boards of Autism Speaks and the Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation.
