Contents:
Toolkits
This webinar focuses on the important relationship between autism, gender expression and sexuality. Dr. Wenn Lawson and Yenn Purkis share their experiences and offer guidance in navigating neurodiversity as it relates to sexual identity and expression. This session will feature Dr. Lawson and Yenn Purkis covering key elements of development, identity, and self-expression.
This Toolkit is intended to inform educators, parents, and yet-to-be diagnosed females, transgendered and nonbinary individuals about an alternative presentation of autism. The ratio of males to females appears to be much lower than previously thought. Obstacles to diagnosing those who do not present with the male phenotype are revealed, and the overlap with sexual and gender minorities and with eating disorders are exposed. Problems with the classification system and diagnostic tools are illuminated and alternative tools are identified.
This toolkit addresses LGBTQ2S+ awareness, visibility, and dialogue for individuals with neurodiversity and for their caregivers and families. Gender Identity, sexual freedom, and the rights of neurodiverse people are important for growing and thriving. All people have the right to self-determination, meaning, in this case, the right to engage in mutual relationships that are consensual and respectful and, importantly, the right to be informed about our bodies
Autism Nova Scotia has created a toolkit to explore the differences between Sexuality and Gender Identity
Gender based violence is a term used to describe violence that happens to people because of their gender, gender identity, gender expression, or perceived gender. Gender based violence can look like some people having more power (control) over themselves and others because of their gender and use this control to oppress others - take away people's freedom to make their own choices in life
Pronouns such as she/her, he/him and they/them are commonly used as a way for a person to share their gender identity.
Videos
The Healthy Relationships, Sexuality and Autism (HRSA) supports teens and adults (19 years and up) with autism through introducing concepts of sexuality and social skills through interactive, sex-positive, inclusive sexuality education lessons.
The Healthy Relationships, Sexuality and Autism (HRSA) supports teens and adults (19 years and up) with autism through further discussing the concepts of sexuality and social skills through interactive, sex-positive, inclusive sexuality education lessons
Research Summaries
This study examined issues of sexuality, including experiences and interests among adults. The researchers compared a group of adults on the autism spectrum with adults in the general population
For Library Books
AIDE Canada Library offers a large collection of print and digital (eBook and audiobook) resources. For each of the resources below, we have included links to all available formats.
If you would like to borrow a print copy of one of these books, you can order it through our
free Canada-wide borrow-by-mail service.
eBooks and audiobooks can be borrowed online – just sign into our
overdrive
website or the
Libby
reading app using your AIDE Canada Library username and password. Visit the
Library website
to learn more. Questions? Email us at
library@aidecanada.ca
.
Summary:
"Bringing together a collection of narratives from those who are on the autism spectrum whilst also identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and/or asexual (LGBTQIA), this book explores the intersection of the two spectrums as well as the diverse experiences that come with it. By providing knowledge and advice based on in-depth research and personal accounts, the narratives will be immensely valuable to teenagers, adults, partners and families. The authors round these stories with a discussion of themes across narratives, and implications for the issues discussed. In the final chapter, the authors reflect on commonly asked questions from a clinical perspective, bringing in relevant research, as well as sharing best-practice tips and considerations that may be helpful for LGBTQIA and ASD teenagers and adults. These may also be used by family members and clinicians when counselling teenagers and adults on the dual spectrum. With each chapter structured around LGBTQIA and autism spectrum identities, Gender Identity, Sexuality and Autism highlights the fluidity of gender identity, sexual orientation and neurodiversity and provides a space for people to share their individual experiences."
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Summary:
Summary: “In this empowering and honest guide for LGBTQIA+ autistic teens, Erin Ekins gives you all the tools you need to figure out and explore your gender identity and sexuality. From coming out to friends and family, staying safe in relationships and practicing safe sex, through to self-care and coping with bullying, being out and about in the LGBTQIA+ community and undergoing gender transition, this book is filled with essential information, advice, support and resources to help you on your journey, and also works as a primer on all things LGBTQIA+ for non-autistic teens who are just figuring it all out. Written by an inspirational autistic queer woman, this is a must-read for every autistic teen wanting to live their very best queer life."
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Summary:
Summary: "An inspiring memoir by one of Canada's most unusual, successful and socially conscious businesspeople. Was he gifted or a hopeless misfit? That was the defining dilemma of Andreas Souvaliotis's childhood, adolescence and young life. Andreas grew up in Greece and then Toronto at a time when being on the autism spectrum wasn't easily diagnosed or even discussed. Minds like his were simply considered odd. The polite and friendly would focus their attention and their remarks on his extraordinary ability with numbers and his talent at the piano. But he was left in no doubt about the main impression he made on others. He was different, quirky, a social and emotional outcast. It was nothing short of a disability. Being the gay son of a homophoboic father presented difficuties too. Misfit is the by turns hilarious, weird, tender but always engaging memoir of an outsider who has gone on to enjoy a string of triumphs. The musical prodigy who might have become a great concert pianist surprises everyone first by becoming something of an export marketing guru in Canada's tech industry. And then: 'It all happened in a flash. On a beautiful spring morning in 2007, sitting in my backyard and licking my wounds from a spectacular career derailment, I came up with a big idea--and I found myself contemplating the most daring and unconventional pursuit of my life.' The weird kid from Greece was on his way to making his world, and everyone's world, a better place."
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Summary:
"Hannah Gadsby's unique standup special Nanette was a viral success--and to some, her worldwide fame may have seemed like an overnight sensation. But like everything else about Gadsby, there's more to her success than meets the eye. In her first book, the queer Australian comedian, writer, and actress takes us through the key moments in her life that ultimately led to the creation of Nanette and her startling declaration that she was quitting comedy. She traces her growth as a gay woman from Tasmania--where homosexuality was illegal until 1997--to her ever-evolving relationship with comedy, to her struggle with late-in-life diagnoses of autism and ADHD, and finally to the backbone of Nanette--the renouncement of self-deprecation, the rejection of misogyny, and the moral power of telling the truth"
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Summary:
"So while the assumption when I was born was that I was or would grow up to be a neurotypical heterosexual boy, that whole idea didn't really pan out long term." In this candid, first-of-its-kind memoir, Laura Kate Dale recounts what life is like growing up as a gay trans woman on the autism spectrum. From struggling with sensory processing, managing socially demanding situations and learning social cues and feminine presentation, through to coming out as trans during an autistic meltdown, Laura draws on her personal experiences from life prior to transition and diagnosis, and moving on to the years of self-discovery, to give a unique insight into the nuances of sexuality, gender and autism, and how they intersect. Charting the ups and downs of being autistic and on the LGBT spectrum with searing honesty and humour, this is an empowering, life-affirming read for anyone who's felt they don't fit in.""
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Summary:
Summary: “We don't just come out once. We have to come out continually throughout our lives. And as we grow and change and reach a newfound understanding of who we are, we come out once again in a whole new way.' Following the interconnected lives of a diverse queer community - including asexual, polyamorous, trans and autigender people - this empowering graphic novel explores the multitude of ways a person's identity and relationships can be expressed and can change over time. From Lily coming out as a lesbian after coming out as a trans woman, to Leanne embracing their genderqueer identity in later life, to Ty navigating their queerness with their autistic identity, these stories illustrate how life lived at the intersection of gender, sexuality, race and class is often a journey with many chapters. Full of love and pride - as well as tips and advice - these witty, tender and inspiring narratives prove there is no wrong way to be who you are, so long as you are being true to yourself.”
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Summary:
"When I was in school, everyone got to a certain age where they became interested in talking about only one thing: boys, girls and sex. Me though? I was only interested in comics." Growing up, Rebecca assumes sex is just a scary new thing they will 'grow into' as they get older, but when they leave school, start working and do grow up, they start to wonder why they don't want to have sex with other people. In this brave, hilarious and empowering graphic memoir, we follow Rebecca as they navigate a culture obsessed with sex - from being bullied at school and trying to fit in with friends, to forcing themselves into relationships and experiencing anxiety and OCD - before coming to understand and embrace their asexual identity. Giving unparalleled insight into asexuality and asexual relationships, How To Be Ace shows the importance of learning to be happy and proud of who you are."
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Summary:
"Represents a variety of families, some big and some small, some with only one parent and some with two moms or dads, some quiet and some noisy, but all alike in some ways and special no matter what."
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Summary:
"This document is for autistic people who want gender-affirming care. Gender-affirming care is a type of health care for trans people, such as hormone medications and surgeries. This document was written by a trans autistic researcher. The researcher asked 12 trans autistic people about their experience of gender-affirming care in Ontario, Canada. This document has these people's ideas to help other trans autistic people. The researcher also asked trans autistic people to read the document and help make it better. This document is not medical or legal advice. Most of the information could be used by any trans autistic person, but some resources are specific to Ontario. Not all of the advice will be helpful for everyone. Feel free to ignore anything that isn't helpful for you. The document is written in simple plain language to be accessible to people with different reading abilities. Click on underlined text to follow links to other websites. Visit linktr.ee/transautisticresearch or scan the QR code to access all of the links."
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Summary:
"This resource is intended for gender-affirming health care providers who want to provide better care for their autistic clients. It is part of the research project Understanding Trans Autistic People's Experiences of Gender-Affirming Care. The researcher interviewed twelve autistic adults who had accessed gender affirming care in the past five years in Ontario, Canada. Participants shared their recommendations for improving gender-affirming care for autistic people. This document summarizes these recommendations and includes quotes from participants and links to additional resources. It is not medical or legal advice. The document is based on research with adults and is primarily applicable to gender-affirming care for adults rather than children and teens."
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Photo by James A. Molnar on Unsplash
