Autism and Appropriate Touch

Keep children with autism safe by teaching them the rules of appropriate touch

Children and teens with Autism Spectrum Disorder can find the complicated social rules around touch very difficult, and this can leave them vulnerable. This educational resource provides ready-to-use lessons with photocopiable worksheets to teach about appropriate touch and social boundaries in family, educational, and community settings.

This is a practical educational resource to help teach the social rules of touch and personal space to children and teens with Autism Spectrum Disorder with the aim of keeping them safe and helping them to understand what are appropriate interactions in family, educational and community situations.

The lessons in the book look at different groups of people that the child is likely to encounter such as close family members, teachers, peers, strangers and medical professionals. Through photocopiable worksheets and activities children are taught about different types of touch and in what settings, where on the body, and for how long touch is appropriate with each group. The book also includes discussion on how best to teach the child to recognise if someone touches them inappropriately and what is appropriate when it comes to self-touch.