Sexuality Instruction and Autism Spectrum Disorders

Although generally difficult to talk about in an open and honest manner, sex and sexuality are central to our understanding of ourselves as individuals, and integral to our individual determination of quality of life.  Contrary to preconceived notions about sexuality instruction, it is not designed to titillate, arouse or excite, and it does not focus primarily on the physical act of having sex. Instead, comprehensive sexuality instruction focuses on who the individual is as a sexual being and what that may mean in his or her life. Sexuality education involves instruction beyond just basic facts and knowledge, and includes issues such as personal safety, individual values, gender-role identification, physical maturation, and an understanding of the complex social dimension of sexuality and sexual behavior. Sexuality education, while complex, should be considered an integral element of a truly effective education for learners with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), such as Asperger Syndrome (AS), assuming that the goal of such an education is to be a safe, competent and confident adult to the fullest extent possible.  

Definition of Sexuality

Human sexuality presents us with very complex subject matter, starting with the definition of sexuality. Sexuality, as defined by the World Health Organization (2004), is: 

a central aspect of being human throughout life and encompasses sex, gender identities and roles, sexual orientation, eroticism, pleasure, intimacy and reproduction. Sexuality is experienced and expressed in thoughts, fantasies, desires, beliefs, attitudes, values, behavior, practices, roles and relationships. While sexuality can include all of these dimensions, not all of them are always experienced or expressed. Sexuality is influenced by the interaction of biological, psychological, social, economic, political, cultural, ethical, legal, historical, religious and spiritual factors (p. 2).

Similarly complex is the process of sexual development, which has been described as a “multidimensional process intimately linked to the basic human needs of being liked and accepted, displaying and receiving affection, feeling valued and attractive, and sharing thoughts and feelings” (Murphy & Elias, 2006, p. 398). What both of these definitions boil down to is that sexuality, at its core, is simply part of being human. As such, the avoidance of any discussion of sexuality and/or sexuality instruction as it pertains to learners with ASD constitutes, in effect, a tacit denial of their humanity, which is unacceptable.

History of Sexuality of Individuals with Disabilities

For much of our history, the very concept of individuals with any disability label being viewed as sexual beings was, by and large, anathema to the thinking of the time. The Eugenics movement (1880-1940) resulted in the wholesale sterilization of individuals with developmental disabilities in an effort to reduce the number of such individuals being born (Sobsey, 1994). Beyond the obvious moral and ethical challenges of such a practice, the logic behind the movement was seriously flawed (i.e., most children with developmental disabilities are not born to similarly diagnosed parents, but rather to neurotypical parents) and, thereby, unsupportable on any level. And up until fairly recently, the most favored method of addressing sexuality in learners with developmental disabilities was denial and suppression (Watson, Venema, Molloy & Reich, 2002). Not surprisingly, neither of these approaches can be considered effective. Learners with ASD are, by definition, sexual beings, and to deny them that status is to deny them appropriate access to a critical part of their life—their status as adults and ability to be safe from harm.