Registration for this event is now closed.
Autism, Sexual Health, and Safety: Empowering Community
Presented by Amy Gravino, Landa Fox, and Jessica Cauchi
Wednesday, November 8 & Thursday, November 9, 2023
Vancouver, BC & Web Streaming Live
Recording available for two weeks after the conference for all registrants.
Special Rates for Public and Independent School Staff – Save $125 with this offer from POPARD. View details.
ACT Bursary Applications have now closed for this event.
Apply by completing ACT’s Bursary Form before October 30, 2023. If you identify as Indigenous, or work for an Indigenous organization, complete our Bursary Form for Indigenous Communities.
Accessible sexual health education is an essential part of learning. In this two-day workshop, sexual health educators will present on educational approaches and resources to support age-appropriate, accessible sexual health education for autistic individuals.
In this workshop, participants will learn about:
- The safety risks posed by a lack of information and empowerment, and the corresponding importance of accessible sexual health education.
- Developmental norms for sexual behaviors and knowledge, including how to adapt lessons for different ages and goals.
- Identification of knowledge and skills that may need to be explicitly taught to autistic learners, including consent, body autonomy, and privacy.
- Common barriers faced by parents, teachers, and support staff, including tips for increasing comfort with sexual health and safety topics.
- Approaches for assessment and treatment of contextually inappropriate sexual behaviors.
- Personal insights and lessons learned from lived experience as an autistic woman.
Amy Gravino, MA, Certified Autism Specialist
Amy Gravino, MA, is an autism sexuality advocate and Relationship Coach in the Center for Adult Autism Services at Rutgers University. She is also the President of A.S.C.O.T Consulting, which offers autism consulting, college coaching, and mentoring services for organizations, schools, individuals on the autism spectrum, and their families. Amy is an international speaker who has given TED talks, spoken twice at the United Nations for World Autism Awareness Day, and presented worldwide to audiences on a variety of topics related to autism, with a dedicated special focus and research on the subject of autism and sexuality.
Ms. Gravino obtained her Masters degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Caldwell University in 2010 and currently serves on the Boards of Directors of Yes She Can, Inc. and the Golden Door International Film Festival of Jersey City, as well as the Scientific Advisory Board of Simons Foundation Powering Autism Research (SPARK). She is an award-winning writer who has co-authored a chapter on autism and sexuality in the Handbook of Quality of Life for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and her work has been featured in Spectrum, the leading online news source for autism research, and other outlets. Visit www.amygravino.com to learn more.
Landa Fox, MA, BCBA, Certified Sexual Health Educator
Landa Fox is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst and Certified Sexual Health Educator living and working in lək̓ʷəŋən Territory (Victoria, British Columbia). She has worked in the field of autism and disability support since 2003. Currently, her work focuses on sexual health, relationship, and safety education for autistic and other neurodivergent people. She also teaches sexual health education in schools around Victoria.
Her work often centers around creating and modifying existing sexual health and relationship education to be meaningful, accessible, and inclusive. She also works to create behavior support plans to address contextually inappropriate sexual behavior. Her work is client-centered, values-led, rights-based, and grounded in harm reduction principles.
She also trains caregivers, teachers, staff, and communities about sexual health development and inclusive sex education. Her special interests within the area of sexual health education include how to promote a culture of consent and body autonomy for autistic children and youth; developing affirming and rights-based sex education; and advocating for access to sexuality and sexual health for everyone. Visit www.positiveconnections.ca to learn more.
Jessica Cauchi, PhD, BCBA-D, CPBA-AP
Dr. Cauchi is a behavior analyst that has worked with people on the autism spectrum for over 20 years. She resides in Ontario, Canada. Jessica received her PhD in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) from Endicott College and is a doctoral level Board Certified Behavior Analyst and a Certified Progressive Behavior Analyst – Autism Professional. Dr. Cauchi is interested in research and clinical practice in curriculum development and effective teaching practices in sexuality skills for persons on the autism spectrum, meaningful programming, rapport and assent, and progressive ABA. She has published work in these areas, as well as presented on these topics across Canada and internationally.
For in-person audience: Coffee and light snacks will be provided at registration and morning breaks.
Please bring/buy your own lunch.
Day 1: Wednesday, November 8
8:15 am – 9:00 am
(In-person Only) Registration
9:00 am – 10:00 am
Session 1 – Amy Gravino
10:00 am – 10:15 am
Morning Break
10:15 am – 11:15 am
Session 2 – Jessica Cauchi
11:15 am – 11:20 am
Short Break
11:20 am – 12:20 pm
Session 3 – Jessica Cauchi
12:20 pm – 1:20 pm
Lunch Break
1:20 pm – 2:20 pm
Session 4 – Landa Fox
2:20 pm – 2:25 pm
Short Break
2:25 pm – 3:25 pm
Session 5 – Panel Discussion (Amy, Landa, and Jessica)
Day 2: Thursday, November 9
8:15 am – 9:00 am
(In-person Only) Registration
9:00 am – 10:00 am
Session 1 – Amy Gravino
10:00 am – 10:15 am
Morning Break
10:15 am – 11:15 am
Session 2 – Landa Fox
11:15 am – 11:20 pm
Short Break
11:20 pm – 12:20 pm
Session 3 – Q & A (Amy and Landa)
12:20 pm – 1:20 pm
Lunch Break
1:20 pm – 2:20 pm
Session 4 – Landa Fox
Level: Introductory.
Focus: Educational approaches and resources to support age-appropriate, accessible sexual health education for autistic individuals.
For: Autistic youth and adults, family members, professionals.
Autism Specific?: Yes.
Day 1: Wednesday, November 8, 2023 – 9:00 am to 3:25 pm Pacific Time
Agenda
- Session 1: 9:00 am – 10:00am: Lived Experience Part 1 (Amy Gravino)
- Session 2: 10:15 am – 11:15 pm: Safety and Skills (Jessica Cauchi)
- Session 3: 11:20 am – 12:20 pm: The Behavior of Sexuality (Jessica Cauchi)
- Session 4: 1:20 pm – 2:20 pm: Accessible Sexual Health and Safety Education (Landa Fox)
- Session 5: 2:25 pm – 3:25 pm: Panel Discussion (Amy, Landa and Jessica)
Day 2: Thursday, November 9, 2023 – 9:00 am to 2:20 pm Pacific Time
Agenda
- Session 1: 9:00 am – 10:00am: Lived Experience Part 2 (Amy Gravino)
- Session 2: 10:15 am – 11:15 pm: Assessing and Addressing Contextually Inappropriate Sexual Behaviour (Landa Fox)
- Session 3: 11:20 am – 12:20 pm: Q & A (Amy and Landa)
- Session 4: 1:20 pm – 2:20 pm: I want to, but where do I start? (Landa Fox)
Professionals
Early Bird Rate until October 12, 2023: $275
Regular rate starting October 13, 2023: $325
Family Members, Autistic Adults & Students
Early Bird Rate until October 12, 2023: $225
Regular rate starting October 13, 2023: $275
*Last day to register is Thursday, November 2, 2023
Group Discounts
Registering three or more attendees at a time? Receive a 10% discount!
Educators Rate
Special rates for British Columbia educators. View details here.
Early Bird: $150; Regular Rate: $200
Bursaries
ACT wants to ensure equitable access to all of our events. Bursaries are available where registration cost is a barrier. Full bursaries are available for Indigenous people/people who work at organizations that support Indigenous people. You are encouraged to apply for bursaries as soon as possible as funds are limited.
Apply by completing ACT’s Bursary Form before October 30, 2023. If you identify as Indigenous, or work for an Indigenous organization, complete our Bursary Form for Indigenous Communities.
Autism Funding
If you wish to use your child’s Autism Funding to pay for your registration, ACT can invoice the Autism Funding Branch directly. If you are paying in advance to be reimbursed, you must contact the Autism Funding Branch for approval first.
For information on how to register with your Autism Funding, visit Workshop Registration Using Autism Funding.
Simon Fraser University at Harbour Centre
Fletcher Theater Room (Room 1900)
515 West Hastings St, Vancouver, BC
This venue is readily accessible by public transit. Visit Translink.ca for directions and schedules for the West Coast Express, SkyTrain, SeaBus and bus routes. Please note that parking in downtown Vancouver is costly, but there are several parkades nearby.
Please note ACT cannot accept responsibility for any expenses incurred by the participant from charges that involve travel, accommodations, or other costs related to attending an ACT event. These are the sole responsibility of the participant as well as all risks associated with non-refundable, non-changeable purchases. ACT strongly recommends that participants purchase cancellation insurance for travel, etc. where possible.
ACT has negotiated preferred rates at four downtown Vancouver hotels near SFU Harbour Centre. Please visit this page for hotel details including links to directions.