Adapting the Tackling Teenage Training Sex Education Program for Autistic Adults in the US: A Pilot Study.

Researchers took a Dutch sex-ed program for teens and rebuilt it for autistic adults in the US. Nine adults joined six weekly Zoom classes. Topics included dating apps, gender identity, and saying no.

Each class had slides, polls, and breakout rooms. The team asked, "Do you like this?" and "What should we change?"

All nine adults gave the course top marks. They wanted more time on online dating and role-play. They liked learning from peers, not just the teacher.

No one dropped out. The virtual format felt safe and easy to access.

Murphy et al. (2007) ran a small sex-ed class for autistic men with intellectual disability. They also saw gains in knowledge, but some men still showed risky behavior. T et al. removed the IQ cutoff and focused on adults who live independently, so the new course may fit a wider range.

Costa et al. (2020) and DPatton et al. (2020) both used virtual reality to teach safety skills to autistic people. Like T et al., they found virtual tools are well-liked and easy to use. The difference: VR headsets vs. everyday Zoom.

Breider et al. (2024) tested parent training via telehealth for kids. Only the fully face-to-face version helped. T et al. show that for adults, a fully virtual group can still win high praise. Age and topic may matter more than screen vs. in-person.

Most sex-ed is built for teens or relies on in-person groups. This pilot shows you can move the class online, keep adults engaged, and cover adult themes like dating apps and gender identity. If you serve autistic adults, borrow the recipe: short Zoom sessions, peer breakout rooms, and plenty of role-play. Start with the topics they asked for—online dating and consent scripts—and you already have a willing audience.