Romance and Autism: Dating is more than possible for people with ASD - Autism Awareness
Couple with ASD snuggling

Romance and Autism: Dating is more than possible for people with ASD

There is a common misconception that people with an ASD are not interested in relationships or romance. This simply isn’t true. While this population struggles with social skills and communication, this doesn’t equate with disinterest, even though the stress and sense of self-defeat may dissuade an autistic person from  attempting romance. In a study done by Toronto’s Redpath Centre  , just 32.1 percent of people with autism had had a partner and only 9 percent were married. This contrasts with the statistics of the general population where about 50 percent of adults are married.”

Romantic relationships are not addressed in transitional support plans from childhood to adulthood. Just because a person has autism doesn’t mean there is no desire for affection and intimacy. To learn more about romantic relationships and autism, check out the upcoming film Autism In Love due to be released in 2014. To read this article in its entirety, click here.

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16 Comments Moderation Policy

  1. NT says:

    And being ‘happily’ married almost zero.

  2. Rhoda says:

    I saw 2 couples with autism got married, i want to know the chances of them not having an autistic children.

  3. Paul Vincent says:

    i have a austistic son i have not s een for over 2 and half years. i miss him we had a poor relationship when he was living at home with us

  4. Kate Richards says:

    Stacy, I am currently engaged to a man with Autism Spectrum Disorder. We have been together for 8 1/2 years and I am certain that we will always be together. My fiancé was also emotionally neglected and that adds another layer to the already numerous difficulties in traversing a relationship between someone who is neuro-typical and someone who is not. I do not wish my fiancé were not on the spectrum. I love him for exactly who he is, but I did have to learn how to understand what was actually demonstrative of love and what we subconsciously expect as demonstrations of love or commitment. I would love to talk further about this if you would ever like to. 

  5. Stacy says:

    I think I am falling in love with an autistic man. Hes 43 and kind he’s been neglected so bad. His soul is good. I am looking for information on autism in adults cause sometimes its hard. Its not his fault I know this I can’t leave him behind and its not pity. I genuinely care for his well being.

  6. Boris says:

    So theoretically, my chances of even finding a girlfriend are 1/3, and of being married are 9/100. Yikes.

  7. Justin says:

     Remember it takes two parties to form a relationship, autism itself may not be the problem, ignorance on the other persons plays a part as well.

  8. Mimi says:

    Hi! Do you happen to know what year the Redpath study was published? Thanks!

  9. Robert says:

    Hello. Could you please post a link to the Redpath study?

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