Addressing the sexuality and sex education of individuals with autism spectrum disorders

Amanda Sullivan, Linda C. Caterino

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

68 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper addresses the need for sexuality education for individuals with autism spectrum disorders. It provides a brief overview of autism and Asperger's Syndrome as well as a summary of the existing literature regarding the sexuality of this population. The existing research suggests that there is a high frequency of sexual behaviors among individuals with these disorders. A number of these behaviors may become problematic for caregivers and service providers because they violate societal norms regarding appropriate interpersonal behavior and may jeopardize the inclusion of this group in educational and community settings. The existing sex education programs for individuals with ASD are reviewed, highlighting the major components of programs tailored to this population.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)381-394
Number of pages14
JournalEducation and Treatment of Children
Volume31
Issue number3
StatePublished - Aug 1 2008

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