Publication
Short report: Recommendations for education, clinical practice, research, and policy on promoting well-being in autistic youth and adults through a positive focus on sexuality and gender diversity
Publisher:
SAGE Publications
Date:
02-08-2023
DOI:
10.1177/13623613231188349
Abstract: This short report presents recommendations to promote health and well-being relating to sexuality and gender ersity in autistic in iduals. The recommendations were developed based on the latest available scientific knowledge coupled with a community-driven approach. An international group of autistic and non-autistic experts in the fields of autism, sexuality, and gender ersity and autistic advocates worked together to develop the initial recommendations these recommendations were subsequently checked within the wider community through an online survey. Out of the original 11 recommendations, eight were rated above a consensus threshold. The final recommendations cover three themes: (1) providing education and information on sexuality, relationships, and gender ersity to autistic in iduals and their families (2) improving expertise in and accessibility to healthcare for sexuality, relationships, and gender-related questions, with specific attention to prevention of and support after sexual victimization and (3) meaningful inclusion of the autism community in future research that addresses well-being related to sexuality, relationships, and gender ersity. The recommendations emphasize the need for additional awareness and offer cues to parents, professionals, and policymakers to promote sexual health and well-being of autistic in iduals. In this article, we propose recommendations on what we can do to promote that autistic people can enjoy their sexuality and gender identity, because that contributes to overall well-being. First, we briefly summarize the existing research on sexuality and gender ersity in autistic in iduals. Next, we propose recommendations for how to promote sexual and gender ersity-related health and well-being. Based on what is known about sexuality, gender ersity, and relationships in autistic adolescents and adults, we convened an international group of autistic and non-autistic researchers, advocates, parents, and professionals to develop recommendations to promote sexual and gender health in autistic people. The resulting recommendations were checked through an online survey distributed to autistic people across the world. The online participants endorsed the importance of eight final recommendations related to: 1. Providing education and information on sexuality, relationships, and gender ersity to autistic in iduals and their families 2. Improving expertise in and accessibility to healthcare for sexuality, relationships, and gender-related questions, with specific attention to prevention of and support after sexual victimization and 3. Meaningfully including the autism community in future research that addresses well-being relating to sexuality, relationships, and gender ersity. These community-driven recommendations aim to promote sexual health and well-being in autistic in iduals internationally.