IMFAR 2017: ASD & Sexuality Panel

IMFAR 2017: ASD & Sexuality Panel

by
Shannon Rosa

Sun, May 14 2017 19:06:34

IMFAR 2017: ASD & Sexuality Panel

This much-needed session demonstrated trends and countered many myths about autistic people and sexuality, emphasized the need for more sex ed (including safety) for people of all abilities, and demonstrated that autistic people are more likely to be (or come out as) LBTQ+ than non-autistics.

  1. The first speaker was L. A. Pecora on Sexuality in ASD: The Female Profile

  2. YesWeJon

    Jon Spiers@YesWeJon

    Now autism and sexuality. Autistic women at higher risk of sexual victimisation and sexual abuse. #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:15:46

  3. karamina

    Rachael Lucas@karamina

    @YesWeJon Yes, absolutely. And liable to end up in emotionally and or physically abusive relationships. #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:16:57

  4. SedgewickF

    Felicity Sedgewick@SedgewickF

    Talk on sexuality in women with ASD at #IMFAR2017 – can’t wait to hear about findings as this is covered in my PhD.

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:16:35

  5. autism_women

    AutismWomen’sNetwork@autism_women

    #autistic women have increased risk of sexual abuse, according to this study (??) #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:17:21

  6. c_vh6dlu0aa27yu-1370833

    I think #IMFAR2017 really missed an opportunity to title this session “Autism After Dark”. pic.twitter.com/4xVCccZJHE

    John Marble@JHMarble

    ·

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:17:46

  7. [image above: photo of IMFAR conference session sign reading, “Oral Session: ASD and Sexuality” with the session time and date.]

  8. LorcanKenny

    Lorcan Kenny@LorcanKenny

    Stokes: autistic females significantly more likely to report non-heterosexuality compared to non-autistic females #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:19:28

  9. autism_women

    AutismWomen’sNetwork@autism_women

    Autistic woman two times more likely to be lesbians, three times more likely to be bi #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:19:55

  10. JHMarble

    John Marble@JHMarble

    Dr. Pecora at #IMFAR2017: Autistic adolescent females are 5.5x more worried about puberty than peers.

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:20:49

  11. SedgewickF

    Felicity Sedgewick@SedgewickF

    ASD women 5x more distressed by puberty than ASD men. Can think of a few possible reasons why that would be….#captainobvious #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:21:02

  12. autism_women

    AutismWomen’sNetwork@autism_women

    Regardless of orientation, autistic women experience difficulties with sex education #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:21:51

  13. JHMarble

    John Marble@JHMarble

    Dr. Pecora at #IMFAR2017: Autistic women are just as interested in see as peers.

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:22:29

  14. SedgewickF

    Felicity Sedgewick@SedgewickF

    Review paper finds that ASD women more likely to exp sexual assault – same finding as my (to be published) research #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:18:59

  15. YesWeJon

    Jon Spiers@YesWeJon

    Autistic women have had 1.5 times as many unwanted sexual advances as neurotypical women #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:22:38

  16. thinkingautism

    ThinkingAutismGuide@thinkingautism

    #Autistic women had just as much sexual experience as non-autistic women, but more than #autistic men, & more unwanted advances. #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:22:57

  17. autism_women

    AutismWomen’sNetwork@autism_women

    3.6 more likely to experience unwanted sexually advances #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:23:02

  18. JHMarble

    John Marble@JHMarble

    Dr. Pecora at #IMFAR2017: Autistic females are 3.6x more likely to experience unwanted sexual advances than autistic males.

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:23:44

  19. JHMarble

    John Marble@JHMarble

    Dr. Pecora at #IMFAR2017: Autistic women are 2.6x more likely to have had sex than autistic males.

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:23:02

  20. SedgewickF

    Felicity Sedgewick@SedgewickF

    ASD women have sim sexual exp to NT women but different to ASD men.Also more likely to exp unwanted sexual advances than NT women #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:23:41

  21. JHMarble

    John Marble@JHMarble

    Dr. Pecora at #IMFAR2017: Autistic women are more likely to accept unwanted sexual advances than peers.

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:24:16

  22. thinkingautism

    ThinkingAutismGuide@thinkingautism

    #Autistic women had more distress about puberty than non-autistic women, also more likely to consent to non-desired sex advances. #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:24:20

  23. LorcanKenny

    Lorcan Kenny@LorcanKenny

    Stokes: autistic women experience more distress about puberty onset, something @robyn_steward is writing about #imfar2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:24:25

  24. AbiElizabeth15

    Abigail Thompson@AbiElizabeth15

    Females with ASD 1.5 x more likely to have consented to unwanted sexual advances. Implications for education and legal systems #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:24:36

  25. SedgewickF

    Felicity Sedgewick@SedgewickF

    ASD women more likely to ‘consent to unwanted sexual exp’ but followed w/’doesn’t mean worst case’!! Unwanted is bad regardless! #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:24:44

  26. LorcanKenny

    Lorcan Kenny@LorcanKenny

    Stokes: autistic women more likely to engage in unwanted sexual experiences
    Also Stokes: might not be bad as you think
    Me: 🤔wtf? #imfar2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:26:37

  27. thinkingautism

    ThinkingAutismGuide@thinkingautism

    We need to figure out how best to support #autistic women to gain the skills to fend off unwanted sexual attention. #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:25:41

  28. JHMarble

    John Marble@JHMarble

    Dr. Pecora at #IMFAR2017: Diagnosis in autistic women tends to come at a crisis point in life more than autistic males (diagnosed earlier).

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:26:22

  29. EilishRoy

    Eilish Roy@EilishRoy

    Autistic females experience less informative sex ed despite similar interest in sex as TDs+having more unwanted advances. Not ok #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:31:37

  30. thinkingautism

    ThinkingAutismGuide@thinkingautism

    #Autistic girls’ coping skills are lower during puberty because it is so stressful, so a tricky time for an #autism diagnosis. #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:26:53

  31. G. Hancock then discussed the Romantic Relationship Experience in Autism Spectrum Disorder

  32. thinkingautism

    ThinkingAutismGuide@thinkingautism

    Now: Hancock: Romantic relationship experiences among #autistic people. #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:27:51

  33. thinkingautism

    ThinkingAutismGuide@thinkingautism

    The stereotype of all #autistic people being asexual=BS. Autistic people are just as likely to want relationships as anyone else. #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:28:57

  34. epballou

    Emily Paige Ballou@epballou

    @thinkingautism Tho it’s important to remember that asexuals often do want relationships, if not sexual ones.

    Sun, May 14 2017 06:56:01

  35. epballou

    Emily Paige Ballou@epballou

    @thinkingautism (cont’d) …Lack of sexual attraction =/= lack of interest in relationships.

    Sun, May 14 2017 06:56:33

  36. autism_women

    AutismWomen’sNetwork@autism_women

    Research does establish facts that yes, #autistic women do want relationships #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:29:18

  37. JHMarble

    John Marble@JHMarble

    Hancock at #IMFAR2017: Autistic individuals express desire for establishing romantic relationships but have difficulty establishing them.

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:30:10

  38. thinkingautism

    ThinkingAutismGuide@thinkingautism

    There is no gold standard tool to measure #autistic sexual/social factors. #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:30:15

  39. LorcanKenny

    Lorcan Kenny@LorcanKenny

    Kathrine Hartman: many studies looking at autism and romantic relationships don’t include comparison groups #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:30:37

  40. autism_women

    AutismWomen’sNetwork@autism_women

    499, 13-59 yo, 135 women & 96 men (autistic) w 160 Nt women and 66 NT men in this study #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:32:21

  41. SedgewickF

    Felicity Sedgewick@SedgewickF

    We need comp groups for studies of relationships in #autism -I think when we do,we find far fewer diffs than theory assumes! #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:32:59

  42. JHMarble

    John Marble@JHMarble

    Dr. Hancock at #IMFAR2017: Social interaction w/ other peers impacts establishment of romantic relationships for ASD & non-ASD.

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:34:46

  43. SedgewickF

    Felicity Sedgewick@SedgewickF

    Peer engagement mediates worry abt forming rels&actual rels formed.Makes sense-‘peers’ (friends) def helped me get a date before! #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:35:59

  44. autism_women

    AutismWomen’sNetwork@autism_women

    Autistic ppl report greater anxiety during initial romantic interactions #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:36:00

  45. JHMarble

    John Marble@JHMarble

    Hancock at #IMFAR2017 wonders if anxiety w/ peers limits social learning opportunities. Reducing anxiety with peers may improve connections.

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:37:44

  46. SedgewickF

    Felicity Sedgewick@SedgewickF

    Females have more difficult rel exps. Opp to prev talk which said women have it easier!Diff btwn counting dates&asking if good #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:38:13

  47. K. Hartmann talked about Sexuality in the Eyes of Parents and Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

  48. JHMarble

    John Marble@JHMarble

    Dr. Hartmann at #IMFAR2017: “The topic of sexuality is always difficult to talk about”. Paging: @fakedansavage

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:40:12

  49. JHMarble

    John Marble@JHMarble

    .@fakedansavage Great to see inclusion of transgender autistic individuals in Dr. Hartmann’s #IMFAR2017 research on autistic sexuality.

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:42:52

  50. SedgewickF

    Felicity Sedgewick@SedgewickF

    High proportion of ASD young people have sexual intercourse-parent report assumes numbers lower though.Need sex ed no matter who! #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:45:32

  51. SedgewickF

    Felicity Sedgewick@SedgewickF

    63% of ASD young people reported being sexually victimised in some way-sex ed should cover awareness&management, not just biology #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:47:41

  52. SueReviews

    Sue Fletcher-Watson@SueReviews

    Hartmann on sexuality & autism, rightly noting that it is good that parents don’t know every detail of their child’s sex life #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:47:50

  53. SueReviews

    Sue Fletcher-Watson@SueReviews

    Hartmann: future research should explore experiences of autistic ppl AND their partners. #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:49:37

  54. The last speaker was J. DeWinter on Falling in Love and Living Together? Sexual Attraction and Relationship Status in Adolescents and Adults with ASD

  55. SedgewickF

    Felicity Sedgewick@SedgewickF

    Glad that ‘sex is not for the majority of autistic people’ is dismissed as an outdated premise! #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:51:28

  56. autism_women

    AutismWomen’sNetwork@autism_women

    Me too #IMFAR2017  https://twitter.com/sedgewickf/status/863512760167964672 

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:55:41

  57. c_vp_gbvwaae7vv-6633521

    Dr. Dewinter at #IMFAR2017 states he still has conversations with doctors who still think autistic people aren’t sexual or fall in love. pic.twitter.com/JWHIMwnHx3

    John Marble@JHMarble

    ·

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:53:05

  58. [image above: Slide from Dr. DeWinter’s IMFAR autism & sex talk: white background with a line art drawing of a young white boy pulling open his boxers-style underwear and looking down at his crotch, next to quoted text reading, “‘…sex is not for the majority of autistic people…’ -Torisky & Torisky, 1985”]

  59. JHMarble

    John Marble@JHMarble

    Dr. Dewinter at #IMFAR2017: Sexual experiences of autistic people are more similar to peers than dissimilar.

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:53:47

  60. SedgewickF

    Felicity Sedgewick@SedgewickF

    Little bit sad that this talk on sexual experience is all about boys as last 2 highlighted need to understand & support girls #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:54:19

  61. SueReviews

    Sue Fletcher-Watson@SueReviews

    DeWinter: Autistic boys self-report normal range of sexual experience at mid-teens but lesser range at older ages #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:54:46

  62. YesWeJon

    Jon Spiers@YesWeJon

    Autistic teenagers have broadly similar sexual experiences as neurotypical peers #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:55:05

  63. JHMarble

    John Marble@JHMarble

    Dr. Dewinter at #IMFAR2017: High prevalence of gender fluidity and transgender persons among autistic individuals.

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:55:29

  64. JHMarble

    John Marble@JHMarble

    Dr. Dewinter at #IMFAR2017: Higher diversity of sexual orientation among autistic men & woman than general population.

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:57:04

  65. SueReviews

    Sue Fletcher-Watson@SueReviews

    DeWinter: increased diversity of sexual attraction in autistic adults, especially females, including asexuality #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:57:24

  66. SedgewickF

    Felicity Sedgewick@SedgewickF

    ASD population have higher diversity of sexual orientations than NT (inc. asexuality), particularly in ASD women. #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:57:26

  67. autism_women

    AutismWomen’sNetwork@autism_women

    Study found high rate of autistic women whose sexual orientation was “other/none” #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:58:23

  68. AbiElizabeth15

    Abigail Thompson@AbiElizabeth15

    Jeroen Dewinter: Higher diversity of sexual attraction in autism #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:59:12

  69. SueReviews

    Sue Fletcher-Watson@SueReviews

    DeWinter: about half of autistic men and women in large survey were in a relationship. High levels of satisfaction. #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 21:59:50

  70. autism_women

    AutismWomen’sNetwork@autism_women

    4% of autistic women reported a gender identity other than a binary #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 22:00:13

  71. SedgewickF

    Felicity Sedgewick@SedgewickF

    Around 50% of ASD sample were in romantic relationships and were satisfied with them. Nice to hear positives too! #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 22:01:53

  72. SueReviews

    Sue Fletcher-Watson@SueReviews

    DeWinter: pay attention to sexual diversity and gender diversity in clinical practice #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 22:02:00

  73. c_vsdqvv0aa64t5-3092742

    Dr. Dewinter at #IMFAR2017: Autistic Women: 6.1% gay, 22.4% bisexual. Non-Autistic women: 1.8% gay, 10.1% bisexual. pic.twitter.com/1etUvuDKkG

    John Marble@JHMarble

    ·

    Sat, May 13 2017 22:02:06

  74. [image above: slide with bar chart graph showing that Autistic Women: 6.1% gay, 22.4% bisexual. Non-Autistic women: 1.8% gay, 10.1% bisexual.]

  75. c_vsp9iuaaaavwh-8442931

    Dr. Dewinter at #IMFAR2017: Autistic men: 5% gay, 9% bisexual. Non-autistic men: 4% gay, 5% bisexual. pic.twitter.com/8tK46WDHSu

    John Marble@JHMarble

    ·

    Sat, May 13 2017 22:02:57

  76. [image above: slide with bar chart graph showing that Autistic Men: 5% gay, 9% bisexual. Non-Autistic men: 4% gay, 5% bisexual.]

  77. AbiElizabeth15

    Abigail Thompson@AbiElizabeth15

    Jeroen Dewinter: clinical implications are to pay attention to sexual diversity when offering support #IMFAR2017

    Sat, May 13 2017 22:06:25

  78. SueReviews

    Sue Fletcher-Watson@SueReviews

    Large numbers of people in autism and sexuality session, even right at end of #IMFAR2017 a testament to interest in real world issues.

    Sat, May 13 2017 22:04:15