Sex and Relationships Education for Young People and Adults with Intellectual Disabilities and Autism provides practical guidance for professionals working with, and parents or carers of, people with co-occurring autism and intellectual disabilities, on how to deliver and adapt sex and relationships education. People with autism have specific characteristics which can make interpersonal relationships challenging. When this is combined with intellectual disabilities it can make responding to these challenges even more difficult. While positive experiences can enhance quality of life considerably, negative experiences can be life damaging.
Dr Kelly Asagba Kelly is a Clinical Psychologist who completed her clinical psychology doctoral training at the Salomons Centre for Applied Psychology, Canterbury Christ Church University, in 2017. Her doctoral thesis focused on how sex and relationships education can be adapted for people with both intellectual disabilities and autism. She has worked in various NHS services for both children and adults with intellectual disabilities and autism, and more recently in perinatal mental health services. Her interests in the areas of intellectual disabilities and autism relate to sexuality, relationships and positive behaviour support. She also has interests in perinatal psychology and promoting positive parent-child interactions. Professor Jan Burns Jan is a Professor of Clinical Psychology at Canterbury Christ Church University, UK. Previously, Jan has worked as a Clinical Psychologist with people with intellectual disabilities in the NHS and has carried out research in this area throughout her career. She has previously been the Programme Director for the Salomons Institute Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and has contributed to the development of the profession in the UK. Jan's research interests relating to people with intellectual disabilities include gender, sexuality, identity, health and sport. In 2015, Jan was awarded a Member of the British Empire (MBE) medal for her work with people with intellectual disabilities. Dr Sophie Doswell Sophie works across child and adult NHS learning disability services in north London, UK. Sophie has worked as a Clinical Psychologist within NHS learning disability services since qualifying in 2001 and has a wide range of clinical, research and service development interests within and outside of the NHS including promoting identity and reducing stigma, utilising positive approaches including engaging in sport, intensive interaction and non-violent resistance and supporting individuals in difficult situations such those who are institutionalised and in temporary accommodation.
Chapter One: Introduction Chapter Two: Understanding the Impact of Intellectual Disabilities and Autism Chapter Three: Preparing to Talk About Sex and Relationships Chapter Four: Starting the Work Chapter Five: Adaptations and Teaching Methods Chapter Six: Supporting Successful Relationships in the Real World Chapter Seven: Concluding Summary Chapter Eight: Useful Resources
