Connexion Spectrum: Using behavioural skills training to teach sexual health education to autistic adults becomes clinically important the moment a team has to turn good intentions into reliable action inside adult services and community participation, clinic sessions and day-to-day service delivery. In Using behavioural skills training to teach sexual, for this course, the practical stakes show up in skills that remain meaningful when school supports disappear and adult expectations change, not in abstract discussion alone.
Provider: BehaviorLive — via Québec Association of Behavior Analysis
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Join Free →Research demonstrates that autistic people may have the same interests as their neurotypical peers regarding dating and intimate relationships; however, there are few sex education programs that are adapted to the autistic population. As well, there is a gap in clinical practice regarding gender identity and sexual orientation for this population, though the research shows that there is an increased prevalence of diverse gender and sexual identities within the autistic community. Connexion Spectrum was developed to fill this gap, using a behavioural skills training model to teach sex education-related knowledge and skills to autistic adults. Participants engaged in 12 weekly two-hour sessions, in which facilitators presented instruction, modeled activities, offered opportunities for role play, and provided specific feedback. Preliminary results suggest an increase in sexual knowledge, such as defining and understanding concepts, identifying pertinent behaviours, and labeling safe ways to engage in intimate relationships.
| Certification Body | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|
| BACB® | 1 | General |
| COA | 0 | — |
Hayley Vininsky is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst with almost 20 years of experience working with autistic children, teens, and adults. She holds a Master’s in ABA and Autism from the Sage Colleges and a PhD in Educational Psychology from McGill University. Hayley works as the Lead Clinical Supervisor of the ABA Program at Clinique Spectrum. Her clinical practice focuses on teaching social skills, perspective taking, and executive functioning.
Dig into the research behind this topic — plain-English summaries written for BCBAs.
280 research articles with practitioner takeaways
258 research articles with practitioner takeaways
256 research articles with practitioner takeaways
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All behavior-analytic intervention is individualized. The information on this page is for educational purposes and does not constitute clinical advice. Treatment decisions should be informed by the best available published research, individualized assessment, and obtained with the informed consent of the client or their legal guardian. Behavior analysts are responsible for practicing within the boundaries of their competence and adhering to the BACB Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts.