Working with autistic adults in Scotland

We can help you with early intervention, reducing risk, and preventing harmful sexual behaviour and child sexual abuse among autistic adults.

Autism does not cause child sexual abuse. Autistic people are far more likely to be survivors of abuse. However, some autistic adults may face specific vulnerabilities, inequalities, or risk factors that can contribute to harmful sexual behaviour or involvement in child sexual abuse offences.

Who we support

We work with professionals across Scotland working with autistic people over the age of 16, including professionals working in justice, health, education, or the third sector.

Contact us with specific concerns about individuals or situations, or for training or consultancy to increase knowledge, skills and confidence to prevent child sexual abuse.

Case consultation

We provide support for professionals working with autistic adults where there are concerns about:

Sexual behaviour and related risks

This includes:

Child sexual abuse offences, including online offences such as possession or distribution of indecent images of children, or sexual communication with children.
Other sexual behaviours that might be concerning, problematic or harmful.

Vulnerability, exploitation and safeguarding concerns

This includes:

Concerns that someone may be at risk of being groomed, manipulated, coerced or exploited by others in relation to child sexual abuse or harmful sexual behaviour.
Wider concerns about their safety and wellbeing.

Support may include:

Understanding strengths and vulnerabilities.
Talking through worries or concerns and planning how to have helpful conversations.
Understanding whether a sexual behaviour is legal, concerning, or causing harm, and whether any further support or intervention is needed.
Advice on how to help keep people safe and reduce risks, including advice on safety plans.
Advice on providing neuro-affirming support that recognises and respects autistic people's strengths, needs and differences.
Increasing professional knowledge, skills and confidence.

Examples of support:

How to support an autistic adult where there are concerns about escalating use of pornography.
Exploring whether a special interest in anime/hentai requires intervention.
How to reduce risk where an autistic adult is engaging in unsafe online interactions.
Understanding whether masturbatory behaviour is problematic.
How to help an autistic adult understand enthusiastic consent.
How to help an autistic adult recognise early signs of unhealthy relationships.
How to support an autistic adult who has been arrested for a child sexual abuse offence.

Training, workshops and information sessions

We can help you develop knowledge, skills and confidence in preventing child sexual abuse.

These sessions can be tailored to meet organisational and professional development needs and can be delivered online or in person.

Topics may include:

Increasing understanding of vulnerabilities and risk factors impacting autistic people in relation to harmful sexual behaviour and child sexual abuse.
Noticing early warning signs.
Building confidence in recognising and responding to harmful sexual behaviour and child sexual abuse.
Building confidence in talking about sex and relationships.
Supporting autistic adults who have been arrested or convicted of child sexual abuse offences.
Online safety.
Healthy relationships.
Early intervention and prevention with neuro-affirming approaches.

Organisational support

We can guide you to consider policies, procedures and approaches to prevent child sexual abuse.

This may include:

Reviewing current approaches and identifying gaps.
Helping to design or adapt policies, processes and ways of supporting people, making sure these are neuro-affirming and meet the needs of autistic people.

Examples of support:

How to make your service and spaces safer for children.
How to support staff teams to manage risk consistently and confidently.
How to balance risk management with promoting independence and autonomy.
How to develop clear pathways for early identification and response to concerns.
How to create policies that support proactive conversations about relationships, sex and safety.
How to ensure staff feel confident raising and discussing early concerns.

Get in touch

To find out more, please contact:

Kirsten Shield, Senior Practitioner (Autism)

Email: kshield@lucyfaithfull.org.uk

The service is funded by the Autistic Adult Support Fund and is available until March 2028.

Language disclaimer: We use identity-first language wherever possible, recognising that many autistic people view autism as an inherent part of their identity. This means saying “autistic adult”, rather than “adult with autism”, for example. While identity-first language is generally preferred within the autistic community, we aim to respect each individual’s choice about how they wish to be described. We are committed to listening to autistic people and promoting respectful, neuro-affirming language and practice.

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