To date, there is very little existing research on the sexuality education of high functioning adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) even though current research suggests that 1 in 68 children are diagnosed with ASD (CDC, 2014). Through group consensus of experts in ASD representing families, school-based professionals, and researchers, this study aimed to reach an agreed upon understanding of the essential components necessary in teaching high functioning students with ASD about sexuality. Using the Delphi method, expert participants responded to three iterative questionnaires and provided their opinions and recommendations on the content, delivery, and responsibilities of schools and families regarding sexuality education curricula designed specifically for high functioning adolescents with ASD. Based on participant responses, the Guidelines for Developing Sexuality Education Curricula for High Functioning Adolescent Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder were developed.
These guidelines are intended to be used as a tool to guide future sexuality education curriculum development that address the specific needs of high functioning students with ASD and to provide suggestions to modify existing curricula so that the needs of high functioning adolescents students are met. Additionally, families, school psychologists, and researchers are advised to utilize these Guidelines as an advocacy tool to increase awareness of the unique needs of high functioning students with ASD regarding their sexuality education and to initiate conversations and action.
","abstract_html":"<p>To date, there is very little existing research on the sexuality education of high functioning adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) even though current research suggests that 1 in 68 children are diagnosed with ASD (CDC, 2014). Through group consensus of experts in ASD representing families, school-based professionals, and researchers, this study aimed to reach an agreed upon understanding of the essential components necessary in teaching high functioning students with ASD about sexuality. Using the Delphi method, expert participants responded to three iterative questionnaires and provided their opinions and recommendations on the content, delivery, and responsibilities of schools and families regarding sexuality education curricula designed specifically for high functioning adolescents with ASD. Based on participant responses, the <em>Guidelines for Developing Sexuality Education Curricula for High Functioning Adolescent Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder</em> were developed.</p> <p>These guidelines are intended to be used as a tool to guide future sexuality education curriculum development that address the specific needs of high functioning students with ASD and to provide suggestions to modify existing curricula so that the needs of high functioning adolescents students are met. Additionally, families, school psychologists, and researchers are advised to utilize these Guidelines as an advocacy tool to increase awareness of the unique needs of high functioning students with ASD regarding their sexuality education and to initiate conversations and action.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Greiert, Brittany Sovran"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Ph.D.","degree_level":"Dissertation","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Cynthia Hazel, Ph.D.","Bruce Uhrmacher","Sharolyn Pollard-Durodola","Julie Laser","Devadrita Talapatra"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2016,"date_issued":"2016-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2016-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:02:11Z","subjects":["Autism","Delphi method","Guidelines","High functioning","Sexuality education","Educational Psychology","Health and Physical Education"],"languages":["en"],"rights":["Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
"],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/1133","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Cynthia Hazel, Ph.D.","Bruce Uhrmacher","Sharolyn Pollard-Durodola","Julie Laser","Devadrita Talapatra"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Greiert, Brittany Sovran"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2017-02-14T08:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Dissertation"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Ph.D."]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Autism","Delphi method","Guidelines","High functioning","Sexuality education","Educational Psychology","Health and Physical Education"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["en"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/1133"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["To date, there is very little existing research on the sexuality education of high functioning adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) even though current research suggests that 1 in 68 children are diagnosed with ASD (CDC, 2014). Through group consensus of experts in ASD representing families, school-based professionals, and researchers, this study aimed to reach an agreed upon understanding of the essential components necessary in teaching high functioning students with ASD about sexuality. Using the Delphi method, expert participants responded to three iterative questionnaires and provided their opinions and recommendations on the content, delivery, and responsibilities of schools and families regarding sexuality education curricula designed specifically for high functioning adolescents with ASD. Based on participant responses, the Guidelines for Developing Sexuality Education Curricula for High Functioning Adolescent Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder were developed.
These guidelines are intended to be used as a tool to guide future sexuality education curriculum development that address the specific needs of high functioning students with ASD and to provide suggestions to modify existing curricula so that the needs of high functioning adolescents students are met. Additionally, families, school psychologists, and researchers are advised to utilize these Guidelines as an advocacy tool to increase awareness of the unique needs of high functioning students with ASD regarding their sexuality education and to initiate conversations and action.
"]},{"key":"dc:format","label":"Dc Format","values":["application/pdf"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Key Components of Successful Sexuality Education for High Functioning Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Cynthia Hazel, Ph.D.","Bruce Uhrmacher","Sharolyn Pollard-Durodola","Julie Laser","Devadrita Talapatra"],"dc:creator":["Greiert, Brittany Sovran"],"dc:date.available":["2017-02-14T08:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["To date, there is very little existing research on the sexuality education of high functioning adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) even though current research suggests that 1 in 68 children are diagnosed with ASD (CDC, 2014). Through group consensus of experts in ASD representing families, school-based professionals, and researchers, this study aimed to reach an agreed upon understanding of the essential components necessary in teaching high functioning students with ASD about sexuality. Using the Delphi method, expert participants responded to three iterative questionnaires and provided their opinions and recommendations on the content, delivery, and responsibilities of schools and families regarding sexuality education curricula designed specifically for high functioning adolescents with ASD. Based on participant responses, the Guidelines for Developing Sexuality Education Curricula for High Functioning Adolescent Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder were developed.
These guidelines are intended to be used as a tool to guide future sexuality education curriculum development that address the specific needs of high functioning students with ASD and to provide suggestions to modify existing curricula so that the needs of high functioning adolescents students are met. Additionally, families, school psychologists, and researchers are advised to utilize these Guidelines as an advocacy tool to increase awareness of the unique needs of high functioning students with ASD regarding their sexuality education and to initiate conversations and action.
"],"dc:format":["application/pdf"],"dc:identifier":["https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/1133"],"dc:language":["en"],"dc:rights":["Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
"],"dc:subject":["Autism","Delphi method","Guidelines","High functioning","Sexuality education","Educational Psychology","Health and Physical Education"],"dc:title":["Key Components of Successful Sexuality Education for High Functioning Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder"],"thesis:degree_level":["Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_name":["Ph.D."]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:02:11Z"}