First CRUSH: Piloting the Preliminary Feasibility and Acceptability of the Competence in Romance and Understanding Sexual Health (CRUSH) Curriculum

First CRUSH: Piloting the Preliminary Feasibility and Acceptability of the Competence in Romance and Understanding Sexual Health (CRUSH) Curriculum

First CRUSH: Piloting the Preliminary Feasibility and Acceptability of the Competence in Romance and Understanding Sexual Health (CRUSH) Curriculum

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn about the feasibility and acceptability of a behavioral intervention in designed to provide sexual education and improve the behavioral skills of autistic adults for intimate relationships. The main questions it aims to answer are: Acquire feasibility and acceptability data for delivery of the CRUSH curriculum in a group didactic setting plus 1-1 coaching. Acquire feasibility and acceptability data regarding the assessment battery for future clinical trials. Participants will complete: A screening call. Provide documentation of a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. 3 visits to assess knowledge and behaviors related to dating and sexual health at each point throughout the training curriculum (before beginning, midway, and after finishing). 15-20 training sessions to participate in the CRUSH curriculum. After each session, provide feedback about the session.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn about the feasibility and acceptability of a behavioral intervention in designed to provide sexual education and improve the behavioral skills of autistic adults for intimate relationships, called CRUSH. The main questions it aims to answer are: Acquire feasibility and acceptability data for delivery of the CRUSH curriculum in a group didactic setting plus 1-1 coaching. Acquire feasibility and acceptability data regarding the assessment battery for future clinical trials. Participants will complete: A screening call. Provide documentation of a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. 3 visits to assess knowledge and behaviors related to dating and sexual health at each point throughout the training curriculum (before beginning, midway, and after finishing). 15-20 training sessions to participate in the CRUSH curriculum. After each session, provide feedback about the session.

Manualized curriculum targeting sexual health and behavior in intimate relationships designed to meet the specific needs of autistic adults

A measure of the acceptability of methods used in the project including qualitative interview and 5-point rating scale (lower scores indicate higher acceptability)

Analysis of missing items or session content that cannot be completed (fewer missing items indicates better feasibility)

A measure of the ability to provide definitions of sexual health terms to be used as a measure of target engagement (higher score indicates higher level of knowledge)

At baseline enrollment visit; 8-10 weeks after beginning intervention (i.e., midpoint); 18-22 weeks after beginning intervention (i.e., post-testing)

A measure of sexual health and intimate behavior to be used as a primary outcome in a future trial (higher scores indicate higher levels of behavior)

At baseline enrollment visit; 8-10 weeks after beginning intervention (i.e., midpoint); 18-22 weeks after beginning intervention (i.e., post-testing)

Inclusion Criteria: 18 to 30 years old; Documentation of a prior diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or receipt of services based on an ASD diagnosis; Ability to provide consent for the protocol and understand task demands (i.e., approximately WASI-2 full scale IQ of 70 or above); Fluent in English Exclusion Criteria: Non-English-speaking participants (less than 50% of speech in English); Known genetic etiology of ASD (e.g., Fragile X); Major mental illness (e.g., bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or psychosis). Live more than 35 miles from Two Brookline Place, Brookline, MA where intervention sessions will be offered.