Enhancing Pro-Social Desired Behaviors to Reduce At-Risk Sexual Behaviors in Community Settings
- Resource Type
- Authors
- Tahra J. Cessna
- Source
- Subject
- Sexual behavior
Prosocial behavior
05 social sciences
050301 education
Community setting
0501 psychology and cognitive sciences
Psychology
0503 education
050104 developmental & child psychology
Developmental psychology
- Language
There is a misconception that people with significant disabilities have little or no interest in sex or sexual relationships. This misconception often leads to the teaching of social sexual education on the back burner for practitioners, educators, and caregivers. This chapter discusses the self-monitoring strategies taught to a teenage girl with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder that engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior toward herself and others while in community settings. Mia is a 16-year-old female with a diagnosis of ASD. Mia significantly struggled to respond to the norms that dictate the social conventions regarding appropriate social interactions which led to the emergence of inappropriate sexual behaviors including public masturbation and the inappropriate touching of others. Using person-centered planning and a quality-of-life assessment tool, Mia's multidisciplinary team was able to identify prosocial, desired behaviors to assist Mia in achieving ultimate outcomes and place her in least-restrictive environments across community settings.