It is normal for all adults to have feelings, desires and to become sexually aroused.

How you behave in response to these bodily feelings, I think is what may concern your mother.

Unfortunately many parents, doctors and other para-professionals believe that disabled people do not have the same rghts as everyone else. This is utter nonsense. Every person, whether disabled or not has the right to expect love and companionship, and sex too, if they are of age and it is physically possible.

At age 23 I would expect that you would masturbate in private, and are working on constantly improving social skills with the aim of forming friendships with both genders and if the time and person is right - to form an intimate relationship with someone of the opposite, or even same gender.

As an autistic adult myself, with children and a partner, I can assure you that a happy, healthy sex-life is indeed VERY possible for people with autism.

Best Wishes, Melissa BEE

Reviewed by Sexual Health Editorial Team