Autism Spectrum Disorder and Sexual Violence and Abuse Part 1: Understanding Autism From the Clinical Perspective-Autism Spectrum Disorder P1

Video Transcription

Video Summary

This webinar discusses autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and its impact on individuals who experience sexual violence and abuse. The presenters give an overview of ASD, including its characteristics and prevalence. They emphasize the challenges faced by individuals with ASD, such as difficulties with social communication and interaction. The presenters also highlight the sensory issues experienced by individuals with ASD, as well as the impact of cortisol levels on their ability to focus and feel safe. They discuss the importance of using person-first or identity-first language based on individual preferences. The webinar aims to increase understanding of ASD and provide insights into effective communication approaches when interacting with individuals with ASD during forensic interviews. The presenters stress the need to be proactive, understanding, and supportive in communication, and they discuss the use of visual schedules and social stories to help individuals with ASD understand and prepare for medical exams. They also highlight the importance of obtaining information from non-offending supports to better understand the individual's medical history and needs. The webinar concludes with a Q&A session and information about the next webinar in the series. Overall, the webinar provides valuable strategies for effectively communicating with individuals with ASD during medical forensic exams.

Keywords

autism spectrum disorder

ASD

sexual violence

abuse

social communication

sensory issues

cortisol levels

person-first language

forensic interviews

visual schedules

medical exams

webinar series