Sexual knowledge acquisition and retention for individuals with autism. Issue 2 (2nd April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pask, Liza; Hughes, Tammy L.; Sutton, Lawrence R.
• Is Part Of: International journal of school & educational psychology. Volume 4:Issue 2(2016)
• Page Start: 86
• Page End: 94
• Publication Date: 2016-04-02
• Subjects: autism -- ASD -- sexual knowledge -- sex education; Educational psychology -- Periodicals; Educational psychology; Periodicals; 370.15
• DOI: 10.1080/21683603.2016.1130579
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2168-3611

Abstract

Abstract : Healthy Relationships & Autism is a developmentally sequenced, manualized intervention intended for children and adolescents with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The curriculum is designed to facilitate healthy interpersonal relationships; three modules cover personal hygiene, sexual knowledge, and a variety of productive interpersonal relations. The current study investigates the effectiveness of the strategies used to increase sexual knowledge for individuals with ASD. Specifically, short step-by-step concrete explanations that are paired with visual modeling and repeated practice accompanied by corrective feedback were delivered to six adolescents who showed a wide range of functional abilities. Pre, post, and one month follow-up measures show that the HR curriculum was effective in increasing sexual knowledge acquisition and retention regardless of the child's level of difficulties.