“Recently a 3 year old child, already diagnosed with high functioning Autism, along with his concerned mother visited us at our centre with the chief complaint of the child crying and screaming at night, the moment his mother left his side or left alone or was with his father. This happened for months and mother observed that it was increasing whenever his father or any male member, was around. The mother also reported that child refused to sleep in between the parents and would cling to the mother if made to do so”.

“Seema, a 7 year old girl diagnosed with high functioning Autism, is another child visiting our clinic for intervention for the past 6 months. Recently for past three weeks the special educator observed that she enters our clinic in a bad mood with lot of temper tantrums with repetitive verbal statement “mein aap ko maar dungi“(I will hit you)”.Seema came with her maid and driver to the centre.”

“Nasir a 15 year old adolescent boy was presented with non verbal severe Autism Spectrum disorder. While coming for his intervention to the clinic, he has been refusing to come along with his helper. This behaviour has been observed for past few months as earlier he was comfortable with his company and travelled everywhere with him”.

• Regressive behaviours (e.g., return to thumb sucking, reduced eye contact, bed wetting)
• Reluctance to go off to sleep
• Anxiety
• Difficulty walking or sitting
• Reluctance to be left alone with a particular person or people.
• Sexual knowledge, language, and /or behaviours that are inappropriate for their age
• Recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI) Once a child with Autism has been identified as a victim of sexual abuse and exploitation:
• Parents need to accept the fact that their child is going through some trauma and they need to help them.
• Parents need to treat the child with love and affection and not label the child or discriminate.
• Parents need to deal with their own emotions and feelings in order to help the child by taking professional help if need be. Preventing child abuse in children with Autism:
• Parents need to keep supervision on their child and also on the people accompanying their ward.
• Parents need to train themselves in understanding their child’s non verbal communication along with being sensitive to their signs and symptoms.
• Parents need to take help from professionals dealing with autistic children in case they have slight doubt about their child’s behaviour changing too quickly or unexpectedly.
• Parents need to train their child in communication skills, social skills and life skills.
• Teach children accurate names of private body parts.
• Many times the abuse can happen by someone close to the family thus it is important to listen to what the child communicates and trust him/her.
• Teach children about body safety and the difference between “okay” and “not okay” touches.
• Empower them to say “no” when they do not want to be touched, even in non-sexual ways (e.g., politely refusing hugs) and to say “no” to touching others.
• Bathroom training and independence should start early on so that they don’t have to rely on adults or older children for help.

• Sexuality and Disability June 2013 volume 31 issue 2 pp189 – 200, Sexual Abuse and offending in Autism Spectrum Disorders , Melina Sevlever, Matthew E. Roth, Jennifer M. Gills.
• Disability Studies Quarterly Volume 30 No 1 (2010), Sexual Abuse of Children with Autism: Factors that increase Risk and Interfere with Recognition of Abuse , Meredyth Goldbery Edelson
• Philip Whitaker, (2008) Challenging Behaviour and Autism. A guide to preventing and managing challenging behaviour for parents and children.
• Carson, R.C.,Butcher, J.N .& Mineka ,S .(2000). Abnormal Psychology and modern life. Pearson Education.
• Briere, J (1992). Child Abuse Trauma: Theory and the treatment of the lasting effects. Sage publication.