Isabelle Hénault, Ph.D. sexologist & psychologist Montreal, Canada

1. HealthySexuality for Individuals with Intellectual, DevelopmentalDisability and other conditions Isabelle Hénault, Ph.D. sexologist & psychologist Montreal, Canada Clinique Autisme et Asperger de Montreal

2. Definition of sexuality • Few research & clinical attention • Normal part of development and life • Complexity of sexuality: more than behaviours!

3. Intellectual and Developmental Disability Profile • Social skills: free of social rules • Communication abilities: verbal and non verbal • Theory of Mind: different ways of thinking? • Emotions: detecting, reading, expressing • Sensory issues • Impulsive behaviours • Co-morbidity (other diagnosis)

7. Fears related to sexuality • Not being able to provide correct answer to a question • STDs & AIDS • Unwanted pregnancy • Unions, couples, marriage • Sexual exploitation • Judgment of others • Higher level of sexual interest

8. Issues of development • Sexual behaviours: self-stimulation, exploring sexuality • Frustrations and inappropriate behaviours • Gender identity & role definition: • flexibility, conflict, confusion • Social imitation: context, consent

9. Issues of development • Interpretation of emotions: black & white! • Interpersonal relationships: couples, empathy, intimacy. Confusion & anxiety, disappointment • Sexual drive, desire, curiosity

10. Factors influencing social and sexual development (Griffiths, 1999) • Information • Basic knowledge • Experiences • Social support • Limitations of the environment • Gender segregation • Social network • Rules • Sex education

11. Factors influencing social and sexual development • Intimacy • Interests and limits • Private and public setting • Exploration • Medication • Secondary effects • Synergic effects • Infections • Monitored

12. Factors influencing social and sexual development • Rights and attitudes • Stereotypes • Permissive attitude or protective attitude?

13. Inappropriate behaviors • Selection of partner • Restricted choices • Natural choices • Expanding social circle • Sexual history • Sexual abuse: repetition, trauma • Lack of knowledge and experiences

14. Inappropriate behaviors • Sensory issues: hypersensitivity, hyposensitivity of tactile sense: vulvodynia, irritations, compulsivity • Social attention • Misunderstanding the environment • Deficit in expression (needs, verbal emotional) • Lack of stimulation or activities

15. Inappropriate behaviors • Overwhelming demands • Organic factors (25% serious health problems) no complains… • Psychologic/psychiatric condition: dual diagnosis • Depression, anxiety • ADHD • Phobia, OCD, etc.

16. Puberty • Physiological changes • Hormones levels (testosterone, oestrogen) • Body changes: body hair, sexual function, reactions, periods, etc. • Psychological changes • Emotions (mood changes,stronger, cycle) • Independence • Curiosity • Interests

17. Puberty • Friendship & social skills • Skills: communication: verbal & non verbal, social interactions, sharing • Intensity of relationship • Appropriate: finding a balance • Inappropriate • Love & friendship, intimacy

18. Puberty • Recognition of abusive/unfriendly relationship • Dangerous relationship • Qualities of a healthy relationship • Sharing • Communication • Pleasure, interest • Respect, communication and much more… • Making Waves Program: http://www.counselling.net/

19. Puberty • Self esteem: image • Self confidence: positive experiences • Social network • Finding identity (group, norms, person, sexual) • Isolation • Depression, anxiety, (arrogance 15%) • Aggressive behaviors, self-abusing behaviors

20. Puberty • Hygiene • Positive & appropriate image • Peer pressure & reactions • Desire to create relationships • Transition period, adjustments

21. Steps to Good Hygiene Monday AM. P.M. Tuesday A.M. P.M. Wed. A.M. P.M. Thursday A.M. P.M. Friday A.M. P.M. Saturday A.M. P.M. Sunday A.M. P.M. Body Face twice/day Deodorant Teeth Twice/day Clean clothing Periods (change sanitary pad every 2-4 hours) Hygiene

22. Sex education • Goals: • Better knowledge • Develop own limits and judgement • Decode situations: interpersonal & intimate contexts • Improve social and sexual skills: learn adaptive and positive behaviours

23. www.jkp.com

25. Sociosexual Skills Workshops • www.jkp.com • 10-12 weeks, 90 minutes • 10 themes • Small groups (4-12) • Adolescents & adults • Questionnaires, games, role-playing, software, videos, discussions, social stories, group project • www.cheneliere-education.ca

26. Workshop Themes & Activities • Introduction • 1. Love & friendship • 2. Physiological changes • 3. Sexual relationships • 4. Emotions • 5. Contraception and prevention of STD and AIDS

27. Workshop Themes & Activities • 6. Sexual orientation • 7. Alcohol, drugs and sexuality • 8. Sexism and gender roles • 9. Sexual abuse and problem behaviours • 10. Theory of Mind, communication and intimacy

28. www.msss.gouv.qc.caFree Program • Preventing AIDS and other STDS through sexuality education for students with intellectual impairments - Compendium of teaching and learning activities geared to adapted curricula

29. Government program-free • Gender differences, body parts • Age groups • Private-public • Sexual behaviours www.msss.gouv.qc.ca

30. " ..

32. 3. Sexual relationships • « My first relationship » video • « Fears » checklist • « Values » game • The Five Senses Activity: • A) Experience the senses? • B) Consequences in relationships? • C) Behaviours concerned?

33. Emotional sensitivity • “We don’t have emotional skin or protection. We are exposed, and that is why we hide”. Liliana

34. The Understanding and Expression of Affection • Ability to read the signals when someone expects affection. • Ability to express the appropriate level of affection.

35. The Understanding and Expression of Affection • Affection to repair someone’s feelings. • An immature expression of affection. • A limited vocabulary of expression that may not include subtle or age appropriate expressions. • Sometimes needing frequent expressions of affection for reassurance.

36. “We feel and show affection but not often enough, and at the wrong intensity”

37. Affection? • Why are typical people so obsessed with expressing reciprocal love and affection? • A hug can be an uncomfortable, constricting squeeze. • Don’t cry because someone will squeeze you. • Not comforted by affection to the degree that neurotypicals expect.

38. Different Perspective • Intense dislike of public praise that includes words and gestures of affection. • The capacity for affection, a cup versus a bucket.

39. Empathy • Different type of empathy • Practical-functional • Not in words or gestures • Compassion for animas • Actions

40. Empathy • Affection to repair feelings • Frequency of affection • Sensory sensitivity and affection

43. Aims of the Program • Affection education to ‘de-mystify’ affection. • To understand why people need and enjoy affection. • Explain and encourage appropriate expressions of affection. • Explain to parents the perspective of the person with Asperger’s syndrome.

44. Objectives • Help each child-adolescent discover how expressing and experiencing affection can improve friendships and relationships. • Help each child-adolescent to identify not only his or her own comfort and enjoyment range for gestures, actions and words of affection, but also those of friends and family members.

45. 3. Improve for each child-adolescent the range of expressions for liking and loving someone, appropriate to each relationship and situation. 4. Explain to parents, friends and professionals the challenges faced by a person with an ASD in reading the signals that indicate when expressions of affection are needed and appreciated.

47. 4. Emotions and sexuality • Explore, identify and recognize a range of emotions • Pictures of human faces • Imitation • Mirror • Software-Gaining Face/Mind Reading • Emotions related to sexual realities: body language

48. Emotions Thermometer

50. 5. Contraception and prevention • Quizz • Importance of condom use • Demonstration on « penile model »