Thread by @thinkingautism

#INSAR2019

https://twitter.com/thinkingautism/status/1124634996789121027

WHO definition of sexuality: it is a central aspect of humanity, and everyone has choices as long as they respect the boundaries and autonomy of others.

Sexuality is a holistic concept. It’s not just about risk reduction. It’s also about living good lives. #INSAR2019

Sexuality is for everyone, not just those who have relationships with partners.

#INSAR2019

Gender is separate from sexuality (talking about the Gender Elephant)! #INSAR2019

Most available research about autism & sex is about sexual behavior, knowledge, & attraction, an also identifying as LGBTQ+.

So we want more research on matters that can contribute to autistic people’s QoL.

We need to incorporate concepts like self-determination.

#INSAR2019

Previous autism & sexuality SIGs revealed three major areas of interest:

-Getting a better understanding of autism, sexuality, & relationships.

-Supporting sexual wellbeing and relationship satisfaction.

-Autistic perspectives in research, healthcare, and society. #INSAR2019

We need to take this research on autistic sexuality realities, and bring it back to the community to help counter myths about autism & sexuality, and get people the resources that will actually improve their life quality.

#INSAR2019

Working closely with autistic people on autism & sexuality matters makes research better and leads to more useful supports.

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Note: Autism & Sexuality SIG Leaders are Laura Graham Holmes & Jeroen Dewinter SIG; Co-Leader: is Anna van der Miesen.

#INSAR2019

Commentary: The best information about sexuality and autism is coming from the autistic and advocacy communities right now, not the research community. We need more practical and applied resources.

#INSAR2019

Previous comment was from someone who works in the practical, real world on autism & sexuality. #INSAR2019

Seems like lots of people in the autism and sexuality SIG are looking for collaborators.

#INSAR2019

Some folks are working on tools to help autistic young adults have open conversations about autism and sexuality and their personal experiences. #INSAR2019

We need to help clinicians break down the uncomfortable conversations about autism and sexuality, especially since these topics should but rarely come up in autism evals like the ADOS. #INSAR2019

How do we get relevant gender and sexuality questions into autism studies other people are already doing? #INSAR2019

We’re at the SIG on including and reaching non-speaking people and people with ID. @slooterman is talking about the utter lack of resources, especially for LGBTQ+ needs. People with ID are complicated sexual being too, & autistic people are more likely to be LGBTQ+ SO. #INSAR2019

@slooterman Autistic people with ID need to learn about health boundaries: Pulling a girl’s ponytail because a kid is attracted to her is NOT OK, with kids w/ID or not, says @Aspieadvocate.

Also: @slooterman
reminds us that teens look at pr0n! So how we support that healthily?

#INSAR2019

@slooterman @Aspieadvocate Parent reports on sexuality are NOT going to be accurate. Again, this is true for autistic people w/ID and people with neither of those traits. #INSAR2019

@slooterman @Aspieadvocate To teach sex ed properly, we have to talk the variety of ways in which people express their sexuality. Parents tend to be OK with it, sort of, until LGBTQ+ & tech (vibrators etc.) aspects.

#INSAR2019

@slooterman @Aspieadvocate What teaching health sexuality boundaries for people with ID can look like: IT’s OK to take pictures of your own bits, but it is NOT OK to send those pictures to other people without their consent.

#INSAR2019

@slooterman @Aspieadvocate @slooterman: What do visual supports for people with ID look like with sexual materials look like? Is there a SymbolStix symbol for a penis?

Visual materials like po_rn are not realistic at all.

#INSAR2019

@slooterman @Aspieadvocate We also need good guides about things like masturbation, and consider that parents can introduce the materials, but then have the teens/clients watch the materials on their own. (We recommend Diverse City press: diverse-city.com/online-store-2…)

#INSAR2019

@slooterman @Aspieadvocate So many group homes are run by religious groups, and/or only have one computer in a public place. This means that not only do autistic people not have access to sexuality materials, but if they do, there’s no place to access them in private.

#INSAR2019

@slooterman @Aspieadvocate Another autism & sexuality complication for autistic people, from @slooterman: When you need more support, then functionally, you have less privacy.

#INSAR2019

@slooterman @Aspieadvocate Even in mainstream sex ed, there’s a lot about how to say NO, and not a lot about how to say YES. (Autism & sexuality)

#INSAR2019

@slooterman @Aspieadvocate Sexuality is not unhealthy! So let’s talk about pleasure and well-being instead.

We also need more training materials about sexual identity matters, as those tend to be lacking in autism contexts.

#INSAR2019

@slooterman @Aspieadvocate @johnrobison: Is the autism neurotype a key matching factor for successful relationships for #autistic people?

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@slooterman @Aspieadvocate @johnrobison We need a self-advocacy curriculum for kids, because sometimes it’s not safe for adults to be involved, and kids need to know when and if to approach adults about sexual safety matters. kidpower.org/california/ was suggested but we have not verified it.

#INSAR2019

@slooterman @Aspieadvocate @johnrobison @threadreaderapp please unroll, thanks yet again.