Sexual Health and Puberty
Sexual Health
- We Need to Talk about It: Sexual Health and Students with ASD (March 2018)
- Sexual Health PowerPoint (updated December 1, 2020)
Web Based Resources
- Autism Speaks. Health Guide.
- Baxlely, D. L., & Zendell, A. I. (2005). Sexuality across the lifespan for children and adolescents with developmental disabilities. An instructional guide for educators of individuals with developmental disabilities. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Developmental Disabilities and the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council.
- Cohen, M. R. (2011). ASD and internet crime. Asperger Center for Education and Training.
- Gerhardt, P.F., & Schulman, R. (2017). Sexuality education is a necessity. Organization for Autism Research website.
- Hénault, I. (2013). Sexual education for adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorder: Themes and adapted steps. Autism Advisor: Information and Tips About Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), No. 65, August 2013.
- King County. FLASH Curriculum.
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health/Developmental Services. (2014). Healthy Relationships, Sexuality, and Disability: Resource Guide 2014 Edition. Description and links to curriculum resources on sexuality and disability including ASD.
- Michigan Model for Health
- Sexuality & Sexuality Instruction with Learners with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Other Developmental Disabilities. © Peter F. Gerhardt, Ed.D.
- Spark for Autism-Sex Education and Autism
- Vanderbilt University. Healthy bodies toolkit.
Books and Articles
- Attwood, T, Henault, I., & Durbin, N. (2014). The Autism Spectrum, Sexuality, and the Law. Philadelphia, PA: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
- Chan, J. & John, R. (2012). Sexuality and sexual health in children and adolescents with autism. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 8, 306-314.
- Davis, T. N., Machalicek, W., Scalzo, R., Kobylecky, A., Campbell, V., Pinkelman, S., . . . Sigafoos, J. (2016). A review and treatment selection model for individuals with developmental disabilities who engage in inappropriate sexual behavior. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 9(4), 389-402.
- Hartman, D. (2013). Sexuality and Relationship Education for Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Philadelphia, PA: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
- Holmes, T. G., Himle, M. B. (2014). Brief report: Parent–child sexuality communication and autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 44, 2964-2970.
- Monasterio E, Combs N, Warner L, Larsen-Fleming M, St. Andrews A, (2010). Sexual Health: An Adolescent Provider Toolkit. San Francisco, CA: Adolescent Health Working Group, San Francisco.
- Travers, J., & Tincani, M. (2010). Sexuality education for individuals with autism spectrum disorders: Critical issues and decision making guidelines. Education and Training in Autism and Developmental Disabilities, 45(2), 284-293.
- Tullis, C. A., & Zangrillo, A. N. (2013). Sexuality education for adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorders. Psychology in the Schools, 50(9), 866-875.
- Veazey, S. E., Valentino, A. L., Low, A. I., McElroy, A. R., & LeBlanc, L. A. (2016). Teaching feminine hygiene skills to young females with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 9(2), 184-189.
Puberty
The Healthy Bodies Toolkit -
- A Parent's Guide on Puberty for Boys with Disabilities
- A Parent's Guide on Puberty for Girls with Disabilities
Health - When thinking about the health of an adolescent or young adult with autism, physical health, mental health, and sexuality are three of the most critical issues to be addressed.
- Parents Guide to Puberty and Adolescence for Children with Autism by Autism Speaks - ATN/AIR-P
START presents these resources for informational purposes only; no endorsement or recommendation is expressed or implied. Any use of these materials must be premised on the user’s own professional judgment as to the appropriateness for their district, community and student(s), and be undertaken in accordance with all applicable district policy.