Children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) require specialized teaching strategies when learning about puberty, sexuality and relationships. This professional resource offers practical teaching advice geared towards the needs of young people on the autism spectrum. Beginning with information on good practice, policy, teaching methods and recent research, the book then divides into key sex education topics that assist professionals in developing their own individualized and developmentally appropriate curricula. Covering issues of gender, public and private, puberty, hygiene, emotions, sex and more, each topic provides an overview of the difficulties that children with autism might experience, discussion and activity ideas and photocopiable resources including instructional stories, checklists and illustrations. The final section demonstrates how to respond to ongoing patterns of inappropriate behaviour and put together a behaviour plan. Aiming to explain and support the child's developing sexuality while also addressing crucial issues of safety, this book is a much-needed teaching manual for all professionals working with children and young adults with autism including educators in mainstream and special education, psychologists, therapists and social workers.
With a unique focus on Canada-wide practices and research, this text offers a comprehensive introduction to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Covering the clinical, educational, and community perspectives of ASD, the authors highlight how educators, direct support professionals, and communities at large can support people with ASD across their lifespan: from early years, to school years, to adulthood. Additionally, the authors emphasize the emerging nature of the field and the importance of evidence based interventions. The resource is divided into four thematic sections. Section one gives an overview of ASD, including prominent researchers in the field and changes in its diagnostic criteria. Section two looks at evidence-based interventions and the newer sensory theories and frameworks. The third section examines ASD across the lifespan, as well as the experiences of parents and families. The final section looks at additional critical issues, including media, sexuality, peer relationships, and immigration. Beyond being a vital asset for ASD programs and resource centres across the country, Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Canadian Context has broad applications suitable for courses on ASD in behavioural science, education, and health studies programs. FEATURES: - Each chapter features figures, definitions, examples, and questions designed to deepen understanding and elicit reflection - Includes feature boxes with interesting perspectives provided by varied members of Canada’s ASD community - Unlike other textbooks on ASD, this text focuses on ASD across the lifespan, covering infancy, early childhood and school years, as well as adulthood, in the Canadian context
There are several reasons for providing sexuality education to individuals with autism including supporting healthy development and preventing undesirable outcomes. Supporting healthy development is predicated on notions that humans are inherently sexual beings and that knowledge about sexual development can empower the individual and contribute to more satisfying outcomes. Individuals with autism are at risk for poor outcomes in each of these areas, and specialized sexuality education may help reduce this risk. Ultimately, providing sexuality education to individuals with autism should lead to tangible, observable, and valuable outcomes that improve quality of life. However, many families, teachers, and therapists struggle with how to teach sexuality education to people with autism. Cases on Teaching Sexuality Education to Individuals With Autism is a critical scholarly resource that provides real case studies that show teachers, behavior analysts, and other stakeholders how to address sexuality education and problem behaviors using evidence-based practices. The case studies detail how teachers and therapists make treatment decisions, include family values and cultural beliefs in treatment, and use data to drive treatment decisions. Featuring a wide range of topics such as developmental disabilities, psychosexual development, and special education, this book is ideal for teachers, parents, therapists, behavior analysts, educational professionals, academicians, administrators, curriculum developers, researchers, and students.
A complete curriculum for teaching about sexual health and intimate relationships, taking into consideration the learning preferences, sensitivity, social and other issues characteristic of individuals with autism spectrum disorders.
How do adolescents with Asperger's Syndrome (AS) cope with sexual feelings and behaviour, and how do people with AS deal with intimacy and communication in sexual relationships? This guide provides practical advice on such issues as puberty, couples' therapy, and maintaining sexual boundaries.
This ground-breaking book foregrounds the voices of autistic trans people as they speak candidly about how their autism and gender identity intersects and the impact this has on their life. Drawing upon a wealth of interviews with transgender people on the autism spectrum, the book explores experiences of coming out, with self-discovery, healthcare, family, work, religion and community support, to help dispel common misunderstandings around gender identity and autism, whilst allowing autistic trans people to see their own neurodiverse experiences reflected in these interviews. An incisive introduction clearly sets out up-to-date research and thinking, before each chapter draws together key findings from the interviews, along with advice and support for those providing support to autistic trans individuals. Both accessible and authoritative, Trans and Autistic is an essential publication for autistic trans people, their families, and professionals wanting to understand and support their clients better.
This book provides an extensive overview of curricula and instructional strategies for teaching children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It offers an empirically solid framework for designing and developing interventions for learners along the autism spectrum by reducing skill deficits and enhancing learner strengths while being flexible enough to allow for individual differences. The book discusses key concepts in educating individuals with ASD as they impact the processes of syllabus building, from planning goals and objectives to generating content choosing appropriate teaching strategies, and assessing progress. Chapters detail curriculum designs in academic areas such as language skills, science, and social studies, as well as functional skills, including independent living, career development, and preventing social victimization. The book concludes with recommendations for future interventions and curricula-building. Among the topics covered: Communication and autism spectrum disorder. Mathematical problem-solving instruction for students with ASD. Visual arts curriculum for students with ASD. How to build programs focused on daily living and adult independence. Sexuality education for students with ASD. Curricula for Teaching Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder is a must-have resource for researchers, graduate students, and clinicians and related therapists and professionals in clinical child and school psychology, childhood/special education, social work, developmental psychology, behavioral therapy/rehabilitation, and child and adolescent psychiatry.
Working with Autistic People in the Criminal Justice and Forensic Mental Health Systems: A Handbook for Practitioners is the first book to focus specifically on best practice for working with autistic people in criminal justice and forensic mental health settings. Integrating current theory, research, and clinical practice, this book provides a practical guide for multidisciplinary practitioners working with autistic people who have offended, at all stages in their pathway, regardless of the nature of offending. The book draws together contributions from leading scholarly and clinical experts in the field of autism and forensic issues as well as the views of autistic people under the care of forensic services. Each chapter focuses on understanding the impact of autism throughout the criminal justice and forensic mental health system pathways, including how these systems are experienced by autistic people and their families and carers. Case studies and practical approaches are provided to demonstrate the application of best practice to working with autistic people in secure settings. This book appeals to a wide audience within the fields of psychology, psychiatry, nursing, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, as well as criminal justice staff (e.g., prison and probation), and will be the first of its kind to amalgamate theory, research, and practice in the area of autism and offending.