UTISM PECTRUM EWS TM A YOUR TRUSTEDS SOURCE OF SCIENCE-BASED AUTISM EDUCATION,N FALL 2016 INFORMATION, ADVOCACY, AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES VOL. 9 NO. 2 The Unique Needs of Girls and Women with Autism Advice from a Young Woman in College with ASD By Michele Ramsay, EdD placed on all new medications and meet Program Director new doctors. Now this label is not so scary, CIP Brevard Center and I can better understand the WHY to some of my behaviors. That allowed me to cope better and use the techniques the doc- hy is it sometimes difficult tors were showing me to fit in. to identify females on the I have heard that when a female is de- autism spectrum? Have they mure and not very talkative that she can be taught themselves to behave passed off as shy. If she gets really emo- Wdifferently in social situations? Have they tional and passionate about something, mastered the act of a social fake? Or have then someone says that’s her hormones, they simply figured out how to seek refuge and not emotional dysregulation, which is and escape? what they would say with a male student In working with students on the autism showing those characteristics. I feel that spectrum, female students often present society isn’t going to change anytime soon themselves differently than their male peers. and it will always be easier to diagnose a To dig deeper into this topic, we interviewed guy over a girl because too many people Stephanie Smith, a 24-year-old student at say … it’s just a female thing. CIP’s Brevard Center in Florida. She also attends the University of Central Florida Q. What are some general challenges (at where she is majoring in political science. least 3) that you have faced as a young woman with autism? The Challenges of Adolescence for Girls with Autism Spectrum Disorders A. It wasn’t until I was in middle school Q. How did your diagnosis affect you? A. 1) Not being taken seriously as someone when a doctor diagnosed me with autism. with ASD because most people on the Q. At what age were you first diagnosed Prior to that, I was diagnosed as bipolar A. I remember feeling horrible about my with autism? with ADD. diagnosis in the beginning. I had to be see Advice on page 10 Challenges and Solutions When Providing Services to Females with Autism By Sandra A. Rogers, MS, BCBA an expectation that any staff member, re- daughters being victims of sexual abuse if little. People tend to be more comfortable and Mary Jane Weiss, PhD, BCBA-D gardless of gender, could be expected to a man were to be providing the care in the working with individuals of the same gen- Melmark work with any client male or female. bathroom. The male staff members similar- der, at least when it comes to hygiene needs. Male staff is expected to shower and dress ly expressed fears about being accused of and take care of all toileting needs (includ- sexual improprieties if they were required 2) We are up front about the fact that if we he majority of individuals with ing menses) for female clients. There often to work with female clients. do not have a female staff working on a autism are male, and females are complaints from the male staff that it We have tried to share with families and particular day, then we may have to assign with autism are often overlooked made them uncomfortable to care for a fe- staff that sometimes it may not be possible a male staff for that time period. in discussions of needs and pro- male client, especially during her menstrual to have a female staff to assist in the bath- Tgram planning. Special challenges exist cycle. Similarly, female staff members of- room—and during those times we would 3) We educate everyone about our stan- in serving individuals with autism who ten experience severe discomfort when per- have to have a male staff assist. Also, we dards for taking care of vulnerable individ- are female. In addition, females may be forming personal care on male participants. try to explain that we screen all applicants uals (both men and women), and that we vulnerable in ways that are often not ac- Families also have concerns in these prior to hiring them to work with anyone. would not tolerate any improprieties. knowledged or publicly discussed. We regards. In our experience, many parents All of the individuals we serve are vul- will review the special challenges associ- are adamant that their female child could nerable, but because there is a higher rate 4) We emphasize the importance of teach- ated with accommodating family requests not be toileted, bathed, or be assisted with of reported abuse for females than men, ing independence with hygiene skills as a for female-only staff, protecting indi- any hygiene routines by male staff mem- they may be at greater risk. We understand top priority, since individuals that are more viduals served from abuse, and ensuring bers. Furthermore, many of the male staff families’ concerns, and we always try to independent are less at risk to be violated. that curricular resources are developed were scared and uncomfortable with be- be as respectful as possible without prom- Also, female clients use sanitary pads as to achieve increased independence and ing asked to assist a female client with ising something that we cannot always opposed to tampons—even though main- self-protection. hygiene needs. If we grant family wishes, comply with. stream society typically prefers tampon Many homes serving those with devel- we also send a distrusting message to male Below is a summary of the guidelines we usage—because tampon assistance would opmental disabilities are co-ed. Due to the staff members. We also may be guilty of a use in this context. be an inappropriate and intrusive level of nature of the challenging behaviors that double standard. Do we impose the same help, even for an individual receiving a are experienced by the individuals served, restriction on female staff members with 1) We have men work with men and wom- high level of care. there are often more male staff than female male clients? Parents of females expressed en work with women as much as possible. staff working in the home. It is generally many times that they worried about their This eases everyone’s anxiety at least a see Services on page 12 PERMIT NO. 137 NO. PERMIT Effort, PA 18330 PA Effort, MONROE, CT MONROE, 460 Cascade Drive Cascade 460 U.S. POSTAGE PAID POSTAGE U.S. Mental Health News Education, Inc. Education, News Health Mental ORGANIZATION NON PROFIT NON PAGE 2 www.mhnews-autism.org AUTISM SPECTRUM NEWS ~ FALL 2016 Mental Health News Education, Inc. Autism Spectrum News Board of Directors Editorial Board Chair Cindy Alterson, PhD, BCBA, Principal and Program Director Devereux Millwood Learning Center Constance Y. Brown-Bellamy, MPA, President and CEO Brown Bell Consulting Joel Bregman, MD, Medical Director and Director of Psychiatry The Center for Autism Vice-Chair Joseph D. Buxbaum, PhD, Director Debra Pantin, MSW, Associate Executive Director VIP Community Services Seaver Autism Center - Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Secretary Susan M. Cortilet-Jones, MS, LMHC Licensed Therapist/Adult Coaching Specialist for Peg Moran, LMSW, Vice President, Operations Autism and Neurodiversity - Discovering Your World Center for Regional Healthcare Innovation Westchester Medical Center Stephen E. Freeman, LCSW The Freeman Group Treasurer Lynda Geller, PhD, Founder Kimberly Williams, LMSW, Vice President, Integrated Policy Spectrum Services, A Cooperative of Independent and Program Solutions, Mental Health Association of New York City Practices and Organizations, New York, NY Members of The Board Ami Klin, PhD, Director Peter D. Beitchman, DSW, LMSW, Principal Marcus Autism Center Behavioral Health Consultation Harold S. Koplewicz, MD, President Yvette Brissett-André, MPA, Executive Director and CEO Child Mind Institute Unique People Services Cecelia M. McCarton, MD, Founder and Executive Director Jonathan P. Edwards, LMSW, Program Consultant The McCarton Foundation, The McCarton School (for Autism) New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Judith R. Omidvaran Rachel A. Fernbach, Esq, Deputy Director and Assistant General Counsel, New York State Psychiatric Association Autism Parent Advocate, New York Judith R. Omidvaran Theresa Pirraglia, Co-Founder and Board Member Autism Parent Advocate, New York FECA, The Foundation for Empowering Citizens with Autism Barry B. Perlman, MD, Legislative Chair Patricia Rowan, LMSW, Consultant and Advocate New York State Psychiatric Association Kid’s Connection Jorge R. Petit, MD Howard Savin, PhD Regional Senior Vice President, New York Market Senior Vice President, Autism Quality and Outcomes Beacon Health Options Beacon Health Options Robert H. Ring, PhD, Adjunct Professor, Drexel University College of Medicine; HHS Interagency Pat Schissel, LMSW, Executive Director Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism Association Joshua Rubin, MPP, Principal Alison Singer, President Health Management Associates Autism Science Foundation Alan Trager, LCSW, Chief Executive Officer Richard Swierat, Executive Director Westchester Jewish Community Services ARC of Westchester Founding Chairman Fred Volkmar, MD, Professor Yale Child Study Center Alan B. Siskind, PhD, LCSW Executive Staff Linda J. Walder, Esq. Founder and Executive Director The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation Ira H. Minot, LMSW, Founder and Executive Director Dianne Zager, PhD, Michael C. Koffler Professor in Autism David H. Minot, BA, Associate Director and Publisher Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Pace University AUTISM SPECTRUM NEWS ~ FALL 2016 www.mhnews-autism.org PAGE 3 Table of Contents The Unique Needs of Girls and Women with Autism 1 Advice from a Young Woman in College with ASD 14 On Being a “Unicorn” 1 Challenges and Solutions When Providing Services to Females 15 Sex Differences in Autism: A Treatment Perspective 4 The “Self” in Girls and Women with Autism Spectrum Disorder 16 What Happened to All the Females with ASD? 6 Leaders Join the Board of Mental Health News Education, Inc.