Sexuality & the Spectrum: A Conversation with Dr. Bridget Taylor & Amy Gravino

By: Dr. Bridget Taylor, PsyD, BCBA-D

Jan 23, 2023
ABA, Autism, Children

About this Webinar

Individuals on the autism spectrum are sexual beings and there is opportunity in the ABA field for helping autistic people learn skills related to dating and sexuality.

This webinar is eligible for 1 General CE.

View On-Demand Webinar

Sexuality & the Spectrum: Lessons on ABA, Dating, and Love, Autism‑Style

This session, which features a woman on the autism spectrum sharing her firsthand perspective, will discuss how BCBAs can focus on teaching dating skills in their professional practice and the potential challenges involved with teaching these skills. Strategies and resources will also be offered to help professionals and parents begin conversations about relationships and sexuality with their children and clients.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of the presentation, participants will be able to:

List the misconceptions around autism, sexuality, and ABA, and the potential serious consequences of not teaching dating and sexuality skills
Understand the potential for using ABA to teach dating and relationship skills to individuals on the spectrum and the challenges involved in teaching these skills
Apply specific strategies when opening a dialogue about sexuality and dating with their children and clients

About the Guest Speaker

Amy Gravino, M.A

President of A.S.C.O.T Consulting, Autism sexuality advocate, Relationship Coach

Autism sexuality advocate and Relationship Coach in the Center for Adult Autism Services at Rutgers University. She is also the President of A.S.C.O.T Consulting, which offers autism consulting, college coaching, and mentoring services for organizations, schools, individuals on the autism spectrum, and their families. Amy is an international speaker who has given TED talks, spoken twice at the United Nations for World Autism Awareness Day, and presented worldwide to audiences on a variety of topics related to autism, with a dedicated special focus and research on the subject of autism and sexuality.

Ms. Gravino obtained her Masters degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Caldwell University in 2010 and currently serves on the Boards of Directors of Yes She Can, Inc. and the Golden Door International Film Festival of Jersey City, as well as the Scientific Advisory Board of Simons Foundation Powering Autism Research (SPARK). She is an award-winning writer who has co-authored a chapter on autism and sexuality in the Handbook of Quality of Life for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and her work has been featured in Spectrum, the leading online news source for autism research, and other outlets. Visit amygravino.com to learn more.

About the Author

Dr. Bridget Taylor, PsyD, BCBA-D

Executive Director at Alpine Learning Group and Senior Clinical Advisor at Rethink

Dr. Bridget A. Taylor is co-founder and CEO of Alpine Learning Group and is Senior Clinical Advisor for Rethink. Dr. Taylor has specialized in the education of children with Autism for over 30 years. She holds a Doctor of Psychology from Rutgers University and received her Master’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education from Columbia University. She is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst and a Licensed Psychologist. She is past president of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board and past Associate Editor of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. She currently serves on several editorial boards and the Autism Advisory Group for the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies.

Active in the Autism research community, Dr. Taylor has published numerous peer-reviewed research articles and book chapters, on innovative practices to improve the lives of individuals with autism. Dr. Taylor was recently recognized by the Association for Applied Behavior Analysis International for her outstanding contributions and was given ABAI’s Fellow designation.

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