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Toolkit for Autistic Adults

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Toolkits for Autistic Adults

(Under construction)

The content of for this toolkit has been co-produced with our autistic collaborators and others who are passionate about initiate lives. We present the main themes and topics autistic people who participated in SAAIL shared about their intimate lives. If you are autistic, we hope there will be something in here for you.

We hope this will help to "usualise" people's diverse experiences, help to create more understanding around the different challenges that people may face in navigating relationships in a neuronomative society, acknowledge and celebrate the diversity, and provide resources to help you better articulate your needs to others.

The toolkit will also share the tips and pool resources that SAAIL participants and stakeholders have found useful and wanted to share

Managing rejection

Past negative expereinces with interpersonal realtionships can lead to autistic people experiencing strong responses to rejection in relationships and avoidance behaviour.

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Symptomatic hypermobility

Download the SEDSConnective toolkit on hypermobility, neurodivergence, and intimacy. A helpful guid.

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Alexithymia and intimacy

Understanding more about Alexithymia, or a disconnect from your emotions or responses, and how it might impact your intimate life.

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Consent and communication

We live in a neurotyipcal majority society where flirting and communicaiton around dating, relationships and sex is indirect, ambigious, and abstract. Consent is often implied or assumed and is taught in ways that are not nuanced. This causes barriers and anixety for autistic people. This toolkit deals wiht being in touch with and communcating your own needs and boundaries and making sure others needs, wishes and boundaries are clear

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Exploring BDSM, Kink, and other sexual spaces

Find out more about BDSM, Kink and there spaces and communities.

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Being autistic and queer

We share some of what autistic people had to say about navigating gender and sexual identity. Many of our SAAIL participants said that "normative" gender or sexuality labels like "heterosexual", "woman", "male" did not fit or fully reflect their experiences.

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Paid sexual services

Some information on paying for sexual services in a safe and responsible way

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Online autism and intimacy resources

A list of our favourite podcasts, networks, and resources about autism and intimacy.

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An Autistic Guide to Healthy Relationships

A guide to help autistic people to navigate relationships and recognise the signs of both healthy and unhealthy relationships. By Dr Amy Pearson, lead researcher on the Intimate Violence and Autism Projecet

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Sensory differences and needs

New theme coming soon

Learning Disabilities and Intimate Lives

A link to the incredible Supported Loving toolkit by Dr Claire Bates and collaborators

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Embracing difference and doing relationships your way

Participants give tips on letting of conventional ways of doing sex and relationships that we see in the media and focusing on creating arrangements that work for you and your partners' needs

Positive stories of fulfilling intimate lives

Fullfilling intimate lives are possible, participants also told of good and fullfilling intimate relationships

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Coming soon

More coming soon

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Reproductive health

The transition to menopause can have profound impacts on all appects of everyday life, including our intimate lives. This toolkit brings together what we know about autistic people's experiences and needs around menopause

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Coming soon

Many autistic poeple have said that connecting with an autistic community, or connecting with people who have a shared identity, interest, or hobby was a helpful way to establish connections

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