Chapter 1 What Do We Currently Know about Girls and Women with Autism Spectrum Disorders? 17 --
Asking the question 17 --
Epidemiology and the puzzle of diagnostic rates 19 --
Same disorder, different faces? Sex differences in symptom presentation 20 --
Diagnostic implications of sex differences 25 --
Interventions and supports 27 --
What causes sex differences in ASDs? 29 --
Sex differences in other developmental disorders 32 --
Importance of understanding typical developmental sex differences 33 --
Clinical programs: are they out there? 34 --
A window of knowledge: personal stories by women with ASDs 35 --
Routes to a diagnosis for females and their families 37 --
I'm still not sure what her diagnosis is 38 --
Chapter 2 Approaching Adolescence: Anticipation, Anxiety, Adaptation, and...Acceptance? 41 --
Adolescence: the wild ride 41 --
Developmental tasks 42 --
Adolescence x Autism = A[superscript 2]? 48 --
Specific challenges of adolescence 49 --
Sexuality and masturbation 57 --
Your "Teaching Toolkit": guidelines and techniques 58 --
Chapter 3 Puberty or "Do My Parents Know You're Here?" 67 --
ASDs and adjusting to puberty 70 --
Foundational skills 73 --
Navigating pubertal change 85 --
Managing the locker room 91 --
Hormones and emotions 93 --
Chapter 4 Red Spot: Periods, Pads, and Pelvic Exams 97 --
Goal 1 Finding your positive tone 98 --
Goal 2 Providing accurate information 101 --
Goal 3 Practicing skills ahead of time 107 --
Goal 4 Preparing for the first period 111 --
Successful management of menstrual hygiene 112 --
Great debate: Pads, tampons, or both? 120 --
Gynaecological exam 123 --
Aiming for independence 126 --
Chapter 5 Feeling Good Inside and Out: Self-perception and Self-confidence 129 --
Your daughter's external sense of self 130 --
Body image and physical appearance 130 --
Issues with eating: from complications to disorders 132 --
Fitness and exercise 136 --
Building a healthy self-image 140 --
First bras and beyond: the world of intimate wear 141 --
Fun with fashion and personal style 145 --
Your daughter's internal sense of self 152 --
Creating success experiences 154 --
Developing independence, self-reliance, and responsibility 155 --
Promoting self-knowledge and self-awareness ("Who am I?") 157 --
Developing and expanding your daughter's interests 158 --
Self-regulation and emotional understanding 159 --
Fostering mental health 162 --
"The talk": teaching your daughter about her ASD 168 --
What having an ASD means to your daughter 170 --
Parent modeling of self-esteem 173 --
Chapter 6 Social Landscape of Adolescence: Friendships and Social Status 177 --
Age of friendships 177 --
Understanding friendships and developing friendship skills 182 --
Stages of friendship 187 --
Popularity and social status 193 --
Specific challenges for girls with ASDs 194 --
Finding your daughter's social compass 201 --
Chapter 7 Healthy Sexuality for Girls with ASDs 204 --
Defining sexuality: finding a common meaning 204 --
Sexual attitudes and values 206 --
Why is sexuality education important for your daughter? 212 --
Challenges faced by girls with ASDs 213 --
What does sexuality look like for typically developing girls? 218 --
What does healthy sexuality look like for females with ASDs? 220 --
Your daughter's sexual education plan 222 --
Sexual arousal and masturbation: what's normal for your daughter? 232 --
Romantic feelings and being "interested" in someone 236 --
Your school's sexuality education curriculum: to participate, or not? 248 --
Gender identity and sexual orientation 250 --
Providing reading materials for your daughter 253 --
Chapter 8 Keeping Girls Safe: Promoting Personal Safety in the Real World 257 --
Abuse and developmental disabilities 258 --
How to keep your daughter safe: abuse-prevention strategies 262 --
Sexual harassment and bullying at school 271 --
What are the signs of abuse? 274 --
Building a safety circle 276 --
Respecting others' boundaries: keeping your daughter, and others, safe 279 --
Consent to sexual activity 283 --
Online safety: protecting your daughter on the internet 284 --
Chapter 9 Our Journey: A Mother and her Daughter with Asperger's Syndrome 294 --
Our journey: BD ("before diagnosis") 297 --
Our journey: AD ("after diagnosis") 307 --
Bullying: the nightmare that was middle school 311 --
High school: the highs, the lows, and the in-betweens 320 --
Thoughts on being a female adolescent with Asperger's Syndrome 327 --
Thoughts on being a mother of an adolescent daughter with Asperger's Syndrome 328 --
Conclusion: Embracing Change 330.