On today's podcast, I discuss the first of the extrinsic (or external) factors that impact on the sociosexual development of individuals with ASD:  Ableism.  For those unfamiliar with ableism, it is "a form of discrimination or prejudice against individuals with physical, mental, or developmental disabilities that is characterized by the belief that these individuals need to be fixed or cannot function as full members of society" (Castañeda & Peters, 2000).  It is also one of the largest hindrances to the sociosexual development of individuals with ASD according to a number of authors.

In this podcast, I will review many of the social challenges that individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders experience, as well as discuss some of the impacts on sociosexual development.

This podcast episode will introduce basic concepts related to development of sexuality in neurotypical individuals, as well as introduce some initial topics related to sexuality and individuals with ASD.