Patti's Blog - Advocate for Elders, People with Disabilities and Their Families

10 Steps to Help your Teen with Autism Navigate Dating

Excerpt from: Autism Speaks (click for full article)

 

We’re so glad to address this question, given how many teens and parents express interest. For many teens with autism, the issues of dating and sexuality come up later than one might expect. But every teen is different. Some are eager as young teens, while others don’t appear interested until much later. Regardless, the physical changes that accompany adolescence make these issues relevant for most families.

Of course, dating tends to be an exciting but challenging part of any teen’s life. However, some difficulties tend to be particularly relevant for teens with autism. None are insurmountable. Just keep them in mind while helping your teen navigate the dating process.

Unraveling myths of dating someone with a disability

Excerpt from: The Calgary Journal (click for full article)

 

Maria Barile, an advocate for women with disabilities, lives with what she calls "three impairments", and knows about the many misconceptions involving people with disabilities and their romantic/sexual relationships.

"When I got to university, the reverse was happening," she remembers. "There were courses taught at school about sexuality, but there was nothing about people with disabilities."

She says she became an activist because of the fact that her own experience was never reflected back in her studies. While academics focused on women's issues, sexuality issues, or disability issues, the three were never linked together.