SexualHealth.com
Search Our Site:
 The Sexual Health Network is dedicated to providing easy access to sexuality information, education, support, and other resources.
Home Login Home contact us | privacy policy | Fri May 16 2008   
Men's Sexual Health
Women's Sexual Health
Love & Relationships
Sexuality Education
Disability & Chronic Condition
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Sexual Health Resources
Shopping



Register to join our community  
Join Our Newsletter:


 
Question:
I stumbled upon your bio as a "referral" from an "autism" search. I am 21 years old and have been diagnosed with Aspergers since 1996. I just wanted to say hi and how wonderful it is to see that a person with Autism has done/does so much. I know that from my talkings with my neurologist, my lack of sexual desire/interest in dating, etc... is "normal/ok" for someone with my diagnosis. Seeing a "screen kiss" in a movie or an intimate moment in a movie is like anything else to me.

Answer:
by Melissa BEE:
(06/19/2004)
Hello, It's great to hear from you. Thank you for your compliments, when I was growing up being told 'you can't' didn't faze me for very long. My retort was often 'why not?' I guess being told you can't probably made me more 'bloody minded' Donna Williams also seems to have that same tenacity, when she was told 'autistic people can't......' Donna has proved them all wrong. She inspires me. There are more and more people being diagnoses with Aspergers, and because they are intelligent and successful, they are then faced with the choice whether or not to 'COME OUT' as autistic. Many people are choosing not to 'come out' publicly, as by revealing that information, it implies they are inferior or abnormal somehow, because AS is listed in the DSM-IV (The Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders) It is quite an interesting turn of events. Sexuality and ASD is very difficult to blend together, and doctors, psychiatrists and psychologists don't know anything about the intricacies of autistic brain chemistry and normal sexual functioning, and where and why things go wrong. They don't know and they don't want to know anything about it. Yet ironically, ASD adult mean and women are 'expected' to form relationships get married and follow traditional paths the same as everybody else, without the knowledge, foresight or information on how to go about it, or worse still what 'experts' or professionals to call on - to ask for help if YOU don't get it right. In many ways sexuality and autism is still living in the dark ages as far as a complete understanding of it goes. I'm not sure what you meant by your last sentence. Discussion groups I've been in, people (particularly women) express embarrassment and discomfort at explicit scenes in movies and TV. Some said they have to leave the room. Is that what you meant? Or do you mean that what you see up there on the big screen is surreal, and doesn't match your experience in real life situations? Best Wishes for your future
Melissa BEE

Reviewed by Sexual Health Editorial Team

This question appears in the following topics: