Abstract
Sexuality and intimate relationships are topics of interest to adolescents and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). However, their situation sometimes puts them at risk of being abused or developing self-harming behaviors. The purpose of this article is to develop a toolkit to support sexuality, sexual health, and sustainable sexual practices in youth with ASD. A Multimethod study based on a co-creation approach was used. Interviews were conducted with youth with ASD over the age of 18, with practitioners in a specialized setting, and with school-based practitioners in order to gain access to the different needs and expectations that they may have. Both practitioners and youth seem to agree that the lack of knowledge of youth with ASD is what most hinders their sexual development, followed by their social difficulties. They need access to the basics of sexuality in order to prevent the development of inappropriate behaviors at an early age. The kit could be used as early as age 12. The teaching methods chosen for the toolkit seems to be an adequate way to meet the need for access to basic information about sexuality for young people with ASD. The modalities also seem to be appreciated by both youth and specialist, particularly the use of custom-made pictograms. The toolkit created is a good starting point in bridging the knowledge gap for youth with ASD about sexuality. It would also lessen the burden placed on the various practitioners to do this teaching when they may not all be comfortable.
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Complete version of the toolkit is available if necessary, under request to the corresponding author.
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Picard-Pageau, W., Morales, E., Gagnon, MP. et al. Co-Design of an Educational Toolkit on Sexuality for Autistic Adolescents and Young Adults. Sex Disabil 42, 149–165 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-023-09816-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-023-09816-9