[ms] The Intervention Practice towards Adolescent Sexual Behaviour of Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) by the Teachers of Special Integration Education Programme According to Syarak

Abstract

Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurology delirium syndrome that causes retarded mental development to some of its sufferers. Even though mental retardation does not affect the sexual development of the ASD, previous research shows that the level of sexuality of the adolescents ASD is higher than the normal adolescents, thus causing them to portray inappropriate sexual behavior in public. Most of the Teachers of Special Integration Education Programme (GPPKI) has applied a method adopted from the west such as masturbation in order to overcome the indecent sexual behavior of the ASD adolescents. This situation occurs due to the absence of specific guidelines at the Malaysian Ministry of Education level, on the enforcement of intervention of the sexual behavior of the ASD adolescents. Thus, the objective of this research is to identify the sexual behaviors of the ASD adolescents at the Integration Special Education Programme (PPKI), analyses the practices of sexual intervention enforced by the GPPKI towards the ASD adolescents and also analyze the Islamic jurists view on such particular practices. The research methodology used is a qualitative method that contains case study collected from various field works and content analysis gathered from various references such as books of Islamic jurisprudence, other books and journals. A semi-structure interview was conducted with 11 teachers of the GGPKI that has been selected through purposive sampling by using a snowball sampling. The data collected was analyzed through descriptive, deductive and inductive approach. The research findings shows that inappropriate sexual behaviors are significant with the ASD adolescents at the PPKI, such as masturbation, touching others inappropriately including touching others private parts, revealing their private parts in public, peeping and a few of them even have tendency of committing homosexual relation. Among the practices applied by the GKKPI towards the ASD adolescents, in order to overcome that sexual behavior is reprimand them politely, attract their attention to other matters or anything that relates to their hobbies, putting them under shower and doing masturbation under supervision. Based on the Islamic jurists’ opinion, intervention by masturbation is permissible provided that GPPKI acknowledge the ASD’s level of seriousness. It is vital in order to evaluate between the maslahah and mafsadah of practicing the masturbation. The research implication suggested on the preparation of a guidelines for the GPPKI in Malaysia to overcome the sexual behavior problem among the ASD adolescents at the PPKI.

Keywords: Autism; sexual behavior; intervention; teenager