The two most important issues to address are sexual safety and social issues related to sexuality in children with autism. It should begin with education directed toward personal and sexual safety. This should cover learning how to close and lock the bathroom door, knowing who can and can't help with menstrual care, and understanding the difference between good touching and bad touching. Very few programs exist to teach young people with autism about sex and sexuality, and because people with autism are often unaware of social cues and peer expectations, clear, direct education is often critical. One expert in the field of autism says, "they need to know they should lock the bathroom stall, and they need to learn how to do it".

Many times parents think it's safer if they take their child into the bathroom with them. And, this is appropriate.  However, it should be noted that usually the person most likely to cause abuse is someone the child is familiar with such as a relative or friend of the family. It is usually not someone the child doesn't know. So, it is very important to teach your son or daughter to close and lock the door in a public bathroom, otherwise he or she is too open to abuse.

Another concern is to address the social aspects of sexuality. Unlike most youngsters, children on the autism spectrum are unlikely to learn about sexual norms from peers or even from teachers. Therefore, here are a few things that almost anyone on the autism spectrum can learn about:

• good touch/bad touch
• circles of comfort (who may touch the child or ask the child to undress)
• bathroom and locker room independence
• reporting of past events such an inappropriate touch

There is a second level of difficulty for parents of young people with autism. And, that is teaching even the most basic social aspects of sexuality. There are many things with this subject that have a social component. Young people need to know when and where it's okay to touch themselves, and they need to understand the absolute need for privacy.

How can parents or caregivers begin to think about this issue? Here are seven (7) things to consider:

1. Think ahead - be proactive ("pre-teach")
2. Be concrete (talk about the differences of the body parts between a male and a female, not the birds and bees)
3. Be consistent and repetitive especially about sexual safety
4. Find a person of the same sex to teach the basics of safety and hygiene
5. Be intentional about addressing the social dimension of sexuality
6. Strongly reinforce for all appropriate behavior
7. Redirect inappropriate behaviors. i.e., if a child is most likely to masturbate in class or in public, provide him or her within something to carry or hold, etc.

For more autism awareness, click here. Also,Dr. Rita Yadava,Nerologist of Elmhurst, IL stated in a recent office visit that the Robert Crown Center for Health Education of Hinsdale, IL is an ideal place for any child especially those who have special needs to learn about the body.