Guide Book on Sexual Health Education for Parents and Teachers of Children with Autism

Synopsis & Scholarly Abstract

Sexual development, similar to other forms and domains of human development, begins before birth. It does not merely include the physical changes that occur as children grow, but it also encompasses their sexual knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and behaviours, all occurring within the social contexts of relationships. The growing population of children with autism definitely requires assistance, guidance and help to deal with their changing bodies and developments. Preparing children with autism for puberty and teaching them about sexual health is often seen as a daunting task for parents and teachers, but, it is a necessity that cannot be ignored. Enabling children with autism to understand, accept and express their sexuality in appropriate and safe ways is one of the primary responsibilities of parents and teachers. Hence, an attempt has been made to prepare a guide book for the parents and teachers of children with autism to impart sexual health education. This guide book provides parents with the necessary information about sexuality and related issues. This information will be useful to teachers too, as parents often look to them for counsel and guidance, and they themselves will be better equipped to handle challenging situations within and outside the classroom. This guide book was developed with the intent and hope that it will lead to fruitful lea ing that will enable parents and teachers to help each child with autism blossom into maturity and enjoy the process of growing up to the fullest! These skills will not only help the child now, but also enable the child to be safe, experience better sexual health and enjoy better inclusion in society in the future. The help and support that we received from many individuals and organizations made it possible to publish this guide book in this form. We thank Prof. R. Ramakrishna Reddy, Retired principal and Dr. H.C. Ramanna, former principal, Smt. V.H.D. Central Institute of Home Science (Autonomous), Seshadri Road, Bangalore, for their support and cooperation. We express our heartfelt thanks to Dr. Rathna H., Retd. Chairperson, BOS in Home Science and Head of the Department of Extension Education and Communication, for her support and encouragement. Special thanks to Dr. K.S. Roopa, BOS in Home Science and Head of the Department of Human Development and Research Centre, for providing access to utilize the facilities of the department during the preparation of this guide book. Our gratitude to the Principals of Special schools for their support and inputs to develop this guide book.