Helping autistic young adults navigate dating and sexual relationships
Official title: Dating and Sexual Education to Address Social Challenges of Autistic Young Adults
Funded at University of Vermont & St Agric College · NIH-10894788 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about helping autistic young adults improve their dating and relationship skills in a way that feels true to themselves, by creating a supportive program based on what they want to learn about love and intimacy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Vermont & St Agric College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Burlington, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $234,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R21HD111726-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10894788 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are autistic young adults who are navigating dating and sexual relationships and are seeking support in these areas.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not autistic or who are outside the young adult age range may not receive benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on addressing the unique social challenges faced by autistic young adults, particularly in the context of dating and sexual relationships. It aims to develop an educational program that empowers these individuals to enhance their social skills without the need to camouflage their autistic traits. By involving autistic self-advocates in the research process, the project seeks to identify the specific topics and skills that autistic young adults wish to learn about in sexual education. The approach emphasizes understanding their needs and experiences to create a supportive and effective educational framework.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide autistic young adults with the tools and confidence to engage in healthy dating and sexual relationships, reducing their risk of mental health issues and victimization.
How similar studies have gone: While there is limited research specifically targeting dating and sexual education for autistic young adults, similar participatory approaches have shown promise in other areas of autism support.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Vermont & St Agric College
Burlington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lewis, Laura Foran — University of Vermont & St Agric College
- Study coordinator: Lewis, Laura Foran
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.