SEX EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH AUTISM AND/OR LEARNING DISABILITIES

Healthy Ireland

Please note that Healthy Ireland is an initiative based in Ireland and they do not offer direct support to residents of Redbridge. Despite this, the resources below are available to everyone. At the end of the Busy Bodies booklet, there is some information that is unique to Ireland, outlining rules that do not apply to England.

Busy Bodies - English language version (sexualwellbeing.ie) is a useful booklet outlining:

  • Puberty
  • Changes that can occur to our bodies
  • Sex and conception
  • Adolescence
  • Gender identity
  • Sexual orientation
  • Healthy relationships

As part of the Busy Bodies Programme there are also several useful YouTube videos:

Nemours

The Nemours website has sections for kids, teenagers and their parents including information on different topics related to health.

Teens Health – Nemours TeensHealth

Teens Health has a Sexual Health Section with topics covering your changing body, birth control, STD’s

and other infections. There are two separate subsections – one for boys and one for girls.

Be Safe, Have Fun - Health App

This is a sexual health education app/website for young people aged 14 and over which covers aspects of sexual health, drugs and alcohol.

  • There are a wide range of topics including ‘Words’ (language around sex, sexuality, consent and contraception), ‘Public Space?’ or ‘Private Space?’, ‘How to say no’, and more.
  • http://health.ckuk.org.uk

Love is Respect

Love is Respect is an online resource trying to prevent unhealthy relationships and intimate partner violence by empowering young people.

  • The website offers information about dating, healthy relationships and personal safety as well as support, and advocacy for young people between the ages of 13 and 26.
  • It provides education through resources including quizzes, interactive pages, and testimonials.
  • Website: https://www.loveisrespect.org/

The Mix is a UK based charity that provides free and confidential support for young people under 25. It offers advice about sex, relationships, drugs, mental health, money & jobs.

They offer:

BOOKS FOR ADOLESCENTS

The Growing Up Book for Boys: What Boys on the Autism Spectrum Need to Know! by Davida Hartman

  • Blurb from the publishers: This book explains the facts behind the growth spurts, body changes and mood swings of adolescence for boys aged 9-14 on the autism spectrum, using direct literal language. Topics include growing hair in new places, shaving, and unexpected erections.
  • Davida Hartman (author) is a Director and Principal Educational & Child Psychologist at The Children's Clinic, Dublin, providing multi-disciplinary services to children 0-18.

What’s Happening to Tom? A book about puberty for boys and young men with autism and related conditions by Kate E. Reynolds

  • Blurb from the publishers: This book follows Tom as he begins to notice changes to his body, and helps parents and carers teach boys with autism or other special needs about puberty. It covers all the changes that they will experience, both emotional and physical.
  • Recommended by FPA, the sexual health company

The Growing Up Guide for Girls – What Girls on the Autism Spectrum Need to Know! by Davida Hartman

  • Blurb from the publishers: This book is a guide for young girls on the autism spectrum explaining all they need to know about puberty and adolescence, using simple, literal language and delightful colour illustrations. This book is appropriate for children aged 9-14 years.
  • Davida Hartman (author) is a Director and Principal Educational & Child Psychologist at The Children's Clinic, Dublin, providing multi-disciplinary services to children 0-18.

What's Happening to Ellie? A Book about Puberty for Girls and Young Women with Autism and Related Conditions by Kate E. Reynolds

  • Blurb from the publishers: This book follows Ellie as she begins to notice changes to her body, and helps parents and carers teach girls with autism or other special needs about puberty.
  • Recommended by FPA, the sexual health company

Little Book of Growing Up by Victoria Parker

  • Blurb from the publishers: Everything a girl needs to know about puberty and periods in one brilliant little book. It tells you what happens and what you need to know; the questions all girls are dying to ask but daren't. Suitable for children aged 8-14 years.
  • Recommended by Dr Vivien Wong, senior clinical psychologist at Redbridge EWMHS service

What's Happening to My Body? Book for Girls by Lynda Madaras, with Area Madaras

  • Blurb from the publishers: Everything preteen and teen girls need to know about their changing bodies and feelings; written by an experienced educator and her daughter in a reassuring and down-to-earth style. Topics include changing body size and shape, the growth spurt, breast development and reproductive organs. This book is suitable for children ages 10 and up.
  • Recommended by Dr Vivien Wong, senior clinical psychologist at Redbridge EWMHS service

Nemours

The Nemours website has sections for kids, teenagers and their parents including information on different topics related to health.

Kids Health - Nemours

  • A ‘Puberty and Growing Up’ Section gives facts and articles relating to sexual health and body changes
  • Within this, there is a ‘boys stuff’ section and a ‘girls stuff’ section, each of which look at puberty, common problems and how an individual’s body changes.

NSPCC

NSPCC have a created a ‘Talk pants’ initiative with video about a dinosaur named ‘Pantosaurus’. It aims to teach young children about sexual abuse.

AMAZE.Jr

AMAZE envisions a world that views child and adolescent sexual development as natural and healthy. They want young people everywhere to feel supported and affirmed about puberty, reproduction, relationships, sex and sexuality.

  • The Amaze website has several different sections, including a section for parents and one for juniors.
  • Amaze Junior Website: https://amaze.org/jr/
  • Amaze Youtube, which has a wide range of Videos including Puberty, Having Sex, Self-image, and

STI’s: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXQZTtGgsy6QHH2fg-OJ_eA

Hair in Funny Places by Babette Cole

  • Blurb from the publishers: A funny, informative book all about Mr and Mrs Hormone and their role in puberty! Aimed at 5-7-year-olds.
  • Recommended by FPA, the sexual health company

Where Willy Went by Nicholas Allan

  • Blurb from the publishers: Willy is a little sperm who lives inside Mr Browne. The trouble is, Willy is one of 300 million sperm and they all want the same prize - an egg. This is a valuable picture book for any parent that wants to answer questions about reproduction in an age-appropriate way. Suitable for children aged 5-8 years.
  • Recommended by FPA, the sexual health company

Let's Talk About the Birds and the Bees by Molly Potter

  • Blurb from the publishers: This book will help to start conversations about the facts of life (from how babies are made to puberty and healthy relationships). This book uses clear, easy to understand language to answer questions about sex and relationships. Suitable for children aged 6+.
  • Recommended by FPA, the sexual health company

What's happening to me? (Girls' edition) by Susan Meredith

  • Blurb from the publishers: A sensitive, detailed and informative guide to female puberty, tackling key subjects from the physical changes that occur to practical matters such as buying your first bra. Ages: 8+.
  • Recommended by FPA, the sexual health company

What's happening to me? (Boys' edition) By Alex Frith

  • Blurb from the publishers: A sensitive, detailed and informative guide to male puberty, invaluable for young boys and their parents. Ages: 8+.
  • Recommended by FPA, the sexual health company

ONLINE RESOURCES FOR PARENTS AND CARERS

Raising Children Network

Education Scotland

Education Scotland have some good resources on Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood Resource for Young People with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Please note, the majority of resources on the website will be applicable to supporting young people with Autism Spectrum Disorder generally, but some support offerings may be unique to Scotland.

  • This website below gives guidance on approaching education around relationships and sexual health for parents or teachers. There are several activities throughout that focus on different topic areas.
  • It is designed to be tailored to each child’s individual needs and pace and is suggested for use with children Aged 10+.
  • Link: https://education.gov.scot/nih/Documents/inc51RSHP-ASD.pdf

Learning Disability Matters for Families

This organisation is primarily for parents and carers of children and young people who have a learning disability. In a series of short films, Jillian Allan and Rachel Rudd (parents of children and young people with learning disability) have a conversation about the anxieties parents are likely to experience as their children grow up and become interested in sex.

  • They share their insight into what they understand sex education currently focusses on in schools and have ideas about how they hope it can be improved.
  • The films are intended to support other parents by raising these sensitive issues and give confidence for parents to ask questions in schools, of other professionals and broach discussion with their young people as they grow up.
  • Link: https://learningdisabilitymatters.co.uk/talk-about-sex/

Mencap and Brook

Mencap is a UK charity for people with a learning disability. Brook is a young person’s charity who advocate for young people feeling able to be themselves in a safe, equal and happy environment.

Central Sexual Health

Central Sexual Health is an NHS service providing free sexual health care and information in Forth Valley. Please note that Central Sexual Health does not offer direct support to residents of Redbridge. However, their online resources are open to everyone.

NSPCC Learning – Resources for Parents and Teachers

NSPCC have a range of resources about sexual health and abuse including a lesson plan, slide presentation, curriculum links, classroom activities, books, videos and more. They use a ‘PANTS’ initiative throughout for ease of understanding (as seen in the ‘Online resources for children’ Section above)

BOOKS FOR PARENTS

Girls Growing Up on the Autism Spectrum: What Parents and Professionals Should Know About the Pre-Teen and Teenage Years by Shana Nichols with Gina Marie Moravcik and Samara Pulver Tetenbaum

  • Blurb from the publishers: This book covers all the concerns commonly faced by girls with ASDs and their parents, from periods and puberty to worries over friendships and "fitting in". It provides professional perspectives alongside personal experiences from mothers, daughters and educators.
  • Recommended by Dr Vivien Wong, senior clinical psychologist at Redbridge EWMHS service

Questions Children Ask and How to Answer Them by Miriam Stoppard

  • Blurb from the publishers: This parenting manual provides age-appropriate answers to a huge range of challenging questions and draws from extensive research in child development and specifically on what children can handle at each age.
  • Recommended by FPA, the sexual health company

ONLINE RESOURCES FOR SCHOOLS AND PROFESSIONALS

BBC Two have a series of videos that are designed for use PSHE lessons, specifically for people with Special Education Needs.

NSPCC Learning – Resources for Parents and Teachers

NSPCC have a range of resources about sexual health and abuse including a lesson plan, slide presentation, curriculum links, classroom activities, books, videos and more.

Central Sexual Health

Central Sexual Health is an NHS service providing free sexual health care and information in Forth Valley. Please note that Central Sexual Health does not offer direct support to residents of Redbridge. However, their online resources are open to everyone.

  • 'What is Transgender?' booklet.

Family Planning Association (FPA)

  • FPA is a sexual health company that provides online resources on sexual and reproductive health. There is a range of leaflets available for use in schools, as well as information about government guidance and expectations on teaching sex education in schools.
  • There are several resources and accredited lesson plans available at varying costs. For example,

‘Growing up with Yasmine and Tom’ – a resource written for teachers, by teachers. This includes a series of flexible, age-appropriate lesson plans and fun, interactive whiteboard activities for children aged 5-11.

BOOKS FOR SCHOOLS AND PROFESSIONALS

Sexuality and Relationship Education for Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders by Davida Hartman

  • Blurb from the publishers: This professional resource offers practical teaching advice geared towards the needs of young people on the autism spectrum. Beginning with information on good practice, policy, teaching methods and recent research, the book then divides into key sex education topics that assist professionals in developing their own individualized and developmentally appropriate curricula. It includes discussion and activity ideas and photocopiable resources including instructional stories, checklists and illustrations.
  • Recommended by Dr Vivien Wong, senior clinical psychologist at Redbridge EWMHS service

 

S.T.A.R.S.: Skills Training for Assertiveness, Relationship-Building, and Sexual Awareness by Susan Heighway and Susan Kidd Webster

  • Blurb from the publishers: Specially designed for teaching adolescents and adults with developmental disabilities, the STARS model focuses on four areas: Understanding Relationships, Social Skills Training, Sexual Awareness, and Assertiveness. Assessment tools help identify the strengths and needs of each individual, and then the activities can be catered to address specific needs.
  • Recommended by Dr Vivien Wong, senior clinical psychologist at Redbridge EWMHS service.