Slides / Recording
On February 6, Arlington SEPAC hosted Dr. Eileen Crehan from Tufts University for an enlightening discussion about sexuality education and autism. As SEPAC board members and parents ourselves, we wanted to share the valuable insights that emerged from this important conversation.
Moving Beyond Crisis Mode
Many of us have struggled with how to approach sex ed with our children. Should we wait for them to bring it up? What if we say the wrong thing? Dr. Crehan helped us understand that waiting for a “problem” before discussing sexuality is exactly what we shouldn’t do. Instead, our community needs to foster ongoing, open conversations well before any issues arise.
What Our Kids Really Need
The evening’s biggest revelation came from learning what autistic adults say they wished they’d known more about. While many of us focus on basic anatomy and safety (which remain important), autistic adults identified different priorities:
- Understanding sexual orientation and gender identity
- Learning about consent
- Developing assertiveness skills
- Navigating relationships
The Overlooked Sensory Component
One story particularly resonated with our group – about a young man who had a negative first kiss experience because no one had prepared him for the sensory aspects. As parents of children with varying sensory sensitivities, this highlighted how crucial it is to consider the sensory components of relationships and physical intimacy.
Practical Steps for Our Community
Dr. Crehan shared several actionable strategies that we’re excited to implement:
- Building Support Teams: Rather than parents handling everything alone, she suggested creating a chart of trusted people who can help with different aspects of sex education. This could include family members, teachers, or healthcare providers who connect well with our kids.
- Accessing Better Resources: We learned about several valuable tools:
- amaze.org for short, visual explanations
- The “Preparing for Life” book with concrete activities
- TV shows like “Atypical” that can spark natural conversations
- Understanding Real Communication: A key insight was that while we often teach “just say no,” that’s actually the least common way people communicate about consent. Our children need support understanding both direct and indirect communication.
As SEPAC board members, we’re shifting from viewing sexuality education as crisis prevention to seeing it as an ongoing conversation about health, relationships, and self-understanding. Dr. Crehan emphasized that autistic individuals often have more diverse experiences with gender and sexuality than their non-autistic peers, highlighting the importance of creating supportive environments where our children feel comfortable discussing these topics.
Join the Conversation & Additional Resources
This presentation sparked important discussions that we hope to continue. If you missed the webinar, a recording and the slides are available on our website. We welcome your input on how Arlington SEPAC can better support families in navigating these crucial conversations.
For those interested in learning more, Dr. Crehan shared these valuable resources:
- Clinical Questions: Please direct clinical inquiries to drcrehan@pegasuscaps.com
- Research Opportunities: Visit the Crehan Lab for current studies
- Clinical Resources: Find tools and tips at Pegasus CAPS
- Self-Advocate Materials: Explore OAR’s Sex Ed for Self-Advocates
- Educational Videos: Check out AMAZE for engaging content
This post reflects key takeaways from Dr. Eileen Crehan’s presentation to Arlington SEPAC. While every family’s journey is different, we hope sharing these insights helps our community feel better equipped to handle these important discussions.
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