Going beyond the facts of life, this book gives professionals candid interviews and personal anecdotes that shows how real-life couples with disabilities handle the joys and challenges of their relationships—courtship, sex, parenthood, disagreements, finances, and more. Readers will also get examples of effective sexuality education techniques and vivid case studies that illustrate key points. With this frank, thorough, and highly readable guide, professionals will better advocate for people with disabilities and help them reap the social and emotional benefits of healthy, responsible, age-appropriate sexuality.

Growing up isn't easy, and the trials and tribulations of being a teenager can be particularly confusing for girls with Autism Spectrum Disorders. This book covers all the concerns commonly faced by girls with ASDs and their parents, from periods and puberty to worries over friendships and "fitting in". The authors give candid and realistic advice on a wide range of important teenage topics.

Providing professional perspectives alongside personal experiences from mothers, daughters and educators, this is a unique and indispensible guide for families and their daughters with ASDs, as well as the teachers and professionals who work with them.

Hand Made Love: a Guide for Teaching About Male Masturbation. Dave Hingsburger, $71.95 (DVD format)

This book and DVD set aimed at men with developmental disabilities discusses privacy, pleasure and the realities of sharing living spaces with others. The narrator of the video talks about myths and suggests that masturbation can be a way of learning about sex, while the book discusses masturbation from the point of view of both health and pleasure.

Finger Tips: a Guide for Teaching about Female Masturbation. Dave Hingsburger & Sandra Haar, $71.95 (DVD format)

This book and DVD set is aimed at teaching women with developmental disabilities about masturbation. It also confronts typical myths about female sexuality. A gentle, positive film that is clear, graphic and dignified. The book includes a step by step photographic essay about masturbation, and the joy of private time.

Intimate Relationships and Sexual Health. Catherine Davies & Melissa Dubie, $25.50

A curriculum for teaching adolescents/adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders and other social challenges.

This comprehensive and well-researched curriculum fills a long-felt need in the autism community — a frank, up-to-date resource on sexuality tailored to the unique characteristics of high-functioning adolescents and adults on the spectrum. The authors present "all you ever wanted to know but were afraid to ask/teach", taking into the consideration the learning styles inherent in autism. The curriculum comes complete with lessons, activities, handouts, resources, and more. The accompanying CD contains all the handouts for easy duplication and individualization.

Learning Difficulties and Sexual Vulnerability: a Social Approach. Andrea Hollomotz, $34.95

People with learning difficulties are considerably more likely to experience sexual violence than those without, and for this reason they are often described as 'vulnerable'. This book argues that the act of treating adults with learning difficulties as vulnerable and in need of protection strips them of their autonomy and leaves them with fewer of the skills which are needed to protect themselves from harm. Actions, such as segregation and over-protection, can increase vulnerability.

The author discusses a range of social processes, including sex education, self-determination, friendships, sexual relationships and social inclusion, and examines the risks and benefits associated with each. Drawing on the everyday experiences of 29 adults, the author illustrates how people with learning difficulties can be capable of safeguarding themselves from harm, and makes a range of suggestions for enabling them to become better equipped at managing risk themselves.

Life and Love: Positive Strategies for Autistic Adults. Zosia Zaks, $22.95

Written for adults on the spectrum and those involved — parents, spouses, friends — this book is divided into two sections: life and love. In the life section, the author describes and suggests concrete ways to deal with daily living. In the love section, the author includes a broad spectrum of suggestions for different types of relationships and weaves these together with the core concept of self-esteem.

Many people on the autism spectrum have limited knowledge of how to establish or conduct sexual relationships: drawing on extensive research with people on the autism spectrum, the book openly explores the desires, needs and preferences of people with AS in their own words. Attitudes to issues such as gender, sexual identity and infidelity are included, as well as positive advice for developing relationships and exploring options and choices for sexual pleasure.

This accessible book is an invaluable source of information and support for those with Asperger Syndrome and couples in which one or both partners has Asperger Syndrome, as well as counselors and health and social care professionals.

For people with Asperger's syndrome it can be a challenge to get to grips with the social and emotional aspects of puberty, sex and relationships. Making Sense of Sex is a thorough guide written in unambiguous language with helpful diagrams, explanations and practical advice for young people approaching puberty and beyond. This book is ideal for those who need clear, detailed explanations and direct answers to the many questions raised by puberty and sexual maturity.

S.T.A.R.S.: a Social Skills Training Guide for Teaching Assertiveness, Relationship Skills and Sexual Awareness. Susan Heighway & Susan Kidd Webster, $21.50

Specially designed for teaching adolescents and adults with developmental disabilities, the STARS model focuses on four areas: Understanding Relationships, Social Skills Training, Sexual Awareness and Assertiveness—with the goals of promoting positive sexuality and preventing sexual abuse. Assessment tools help identify the strengths and needs of each individual, and then the activities can be catered to address specific needs. Goals and activities cover a variety of important skills:

• Building a Positive Self-Image • Making Choices • Learning Relationship-Appropriate Behaviors • Engaging in Mature Relationships • Identifying Body Parts and Understanding Their Functions • Understanding Public and Private Behavior • Understanding Sexual Feelings and Behaviors • Understanding Reproduction • Health Issues Related to Sexual Awareness • Recognizing a Situation as Potentially Unsafe • Learning to Say “No” and Using Basic Self-Protection • And many more!

Teaching Children with Down Syndrome About Their Bodies, Boundaries, and Sexuality: a Guide for Parents and Professionals. Terri Couwenhoven, $28.95

Drawing on her unique background as both a sexual educator and mother of a child with Down syndrome, the author blends factual information and practical ideas for teaching children with Down syndrome about their bodies, puberty, and sexuality. This book gives parents the confidence to speak comfortably about these sometimes difficult subjects.

In an easy-to-read, non-clinical style, the book covers relevant issues and concerns for children of all ages, as well as later issues that affect teenagers and young adults, including:

• Anticipating and understanding puberty
• Dealing with periods, bras for girls
• Masturbation
• Sharing parental values about sexuality
• Explaining sexual relationships
• Preventing sexual abuse
• Understanding how Down syndrome affects puberty & fertility rates

Each chapter highlights important points with key messages, teaching activities, parental pauses, and anecdotes, all of which prompt readers to stop and consider concepts or values associated with a particular topic. The final chapter covers the special concerns of parents who are now teaching teenaged or adult children about sexuality for the first time. It concludes with extensive appendices containing invaluable teaching materials and illustrations of body parts and functions.

The Ultimate Guide to Sex and Disability: for All of Us Who Live with Disabilities, Chronic Pain and Illness. Miriam Kaufman, Cory Silverberg and Fran Odette. $24.50

For everyone, men and women of all ages and sexual identities, The Ultimate Guide to Sex and Disability shows you everything you need to know to create a sex life that works for you! Includes:

• The "nuts and bolts" of sex — anatomy, orgasm, masturbation and more
• Building a positive sexual self-image
• How to deal with pain, fatigue and other physical problems during sex
• Sexual positions to minimize stress and maximize pleasure
• Finding partners and how to talk to partners about your disability
• How to discuss sex with physicians and other health care providers
• Safer sex solutions, including alternatives for people with latex and chemical sensitivities
• Plus an extensive collection of sex and disability resources including books, websites and organizations