Gender & Sexuality

What are some ethical concerns with gender & sexuality in people with neurodevelopmental conditions?

Vulnerability and possible exploitation risks

What is sexual attraction?

Refers to whom a person is physically attracted to

What is sexual identity?

How a person identifies their sexual attraction and orientation

What role do cultural/societal norms play in sexuality?

How it is understood and expressed

What is the sexual development in childhood?

Body awareness

Gender role exploration

Early understanding of relationships

What is the sexual development in Adolescence?

Puberty

Sexuality Identity formation

Early romantic experiences

What is the sexual development in Adulthood?

Continued exploration

Intimacy & relationship development

Lifelon learning about sexual health & expression

What is the link between autism & sexuality? (Weir et al., 2021)

Autistic men/women are 3.5/3 times more likely to identify as bisexual/homosexual than non-autistic men/women

What is the link between ADHD & sexuality?

Women with ADHD are more likely to have homosexual experiences

Potential to show more hypersexual behaviours

Generally no differences

What is gender identity?

The gender you internally express

What is gender dysphoria?

Discomfort or distress when their assigned sex is different from the gender they identify with

What is the definition of gender dysphoria in the DSM-5?

A marked incongruence between one's experienced/expressed gender and assigned gender, lasting at least 6 months

What is the incidence of autism in children/adolescents referred for gender diversity services? (Vires et al., 2010)

10 times more people met the diagnostic criteria than the general population

What did Strang et al. (2018) find in clinical autism diagnosis within gender diverse youth?

Rate of diagnosis was higher than the general population

What did Corbett et al. (2023) find in gender diversity and autistic children?

Higher gender diversity

How is gender diversity and ADHD related? (Ignatova et al., 2025)

Gender diverse individuals showed higher levels of ADHD traits

What did Cooper et al. (2020) find in regards to lived experiences in autistic/transgender adults?

Distress due to gender dysphoria & lack of societal acceptance

What is the link between dysphoria and sensory sensitivities? (Cooper et al., 2020)

Sensory difficulties with clothes associated with the assigned gender and difficulties with puberty effects

What is prenatal hormone exposure in gender diversity

Variations in prenatal hormone exposure could contribute to differences in how individuals perceive and experience gender

What is the brain's role in gender diversity

Differences in structure and function could influence how individuals process and internalise social constructs like gender

Why are autistic individuals more likely to have better self-identification?

Autistic individuals may be less influenced by societal norms and expectations surrounding gender & sexuality

What is systemising and pattern recognition regarding gender and autism?

A more analytical approach to gender, breaking down its components and questioning traditional norms

What is intense focus and special interests regarding gender and autism?

Increased depth, leading to a more profound understanding of their own identity & less influence from outside sources

What are sensory sensitivities regarding gender and autism?

Certain clothing textures or social environments associated with specific genders might be intensely uncomfortable

Is there a link between Down syndrome and gender diversity?

No

Why is sex education important for people with down syndrome?

They are often excluded from education

What are the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Principles?

Representation

Action

Engagement