| One of the most perverse problems in an autistic | | | | sensitive to touch in general. It may be helpful to |
| individual's life is the threat of sexual abuse. This can | | | | label zones on the body where no one should touch |
| come in the form of rape or simply be in an abusive | | | | without permission. |
| relationship. Because autistic people spend much of | | | | Also make sure that as your autistic child grows into |
| their lives feeling different and left out, they often | | | | an adult, he or she understands what rape is and |
| enjoy sexual experiences for one reason: it puts | | | | what to do if this happens. As many autistic children |
| them on a playing field equal to others. It is very | | | | are hands-on learners, it may be best to role-play |
| easy for this to become a controlling part of a | | | | some potentially dangerous situations. If your child |
| relationship. | | | | communicates non-verbally, teach him or her clear |
| The most important thing to remember is that | | | | signs to show a person to stop what they are doing. |
| autistic people experience sexuality in much of the | | | | Autistic people can often not understand that others |
| same way that others do, no matter how highly | | | | have their own thoughts and emotions they believe |
| functioning they may be. Parents should teach their | | | | that everyone thinks and feels what they do. |
| child about sexuality from an early age in order to | | | | Because of this, many are shocked to find that bad |
| prevent sexual abuse from happening. | | | | people in the world will take advantage of sexual |
| The most valuable command that anyone can learn in | | | | situations. You may need to explain to an autistic |
| relationship to sexuality is No.Teaching this to even | | | | individual what kinds of dress and conduct are |
| children can be very useful. In this respect, treat your | | | | appropriate in public so that he or she is not |
| autistic child as no different than you would another | | | | unknowingly attracting sexual attention. |
| child teach him or her the parts of the body from a | | | | You child should learn to respect his or her body and |
| young age and be very clear, as the child matures, | | | | understand that others need to respect it as well. |
| about what happens during puberty and what kinds | | | | This is only possible if parents and educators teach |
| of behaviors are appropriate and inappropriate. | | | | autistic children about their bodies from a young age. |
| Be sure that your child understands the differences | | | | By learning how to stop sexual abuse, you can keep |
| between good touches and bad touches. This can be | | | | you children, autistic or not, safe from predators. |
| extremely difficult for autistic children who are | | | | |