Practical advice on handling Menstruation in a severely autistic female.

Hi,

I'm step mum to Eve, she's 13 and severely autistic with a mental age of 2/3 years.  She had her first period today. She won't allow me to put pads in her pants, tampons not an option.  Any advice?  She's seems generally unaffected, although stood in the bath, naked from the waist down, pointing at the taps after being to the toilet today.  I got a traumatised phone call from her dad - home with her at the time.

She doesn't understand the need for the sanitary pads, or the hygiene required, plus we have the risk of blood smeared walls, door handles, bedding etc since her hands are down there regularly......

Any help gratefully received!

Thanks!