Autism safety program by Autism Speaks

June 28, 10:28 PMSpecial Needs Kids ExaminerHeather Sedlock

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Lisa Jo Rudy, Informal Education Examiner and About.com’s Guide to Autism writer, posted a blog about the new Autism Safety program from Autism Speaks and asked readers to review the program.

The program which is offered under Autism Speaks’ Family  Services website has an abundance of tips for keeping those who have an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) out of trouble when local police or  mbulances arrive during a crisis.

  “The Autism Safety Project provides First Responders with information and guidelines for communicating with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in emergency situations.” One such tool is the “Emergency Information at a Glance”   offered at the Safety Program website. It is a form one can fill out with personal information and kept on the fridge for nannies, babysitters and other caregivers. 

Another tool is the PDF form which one would hand to first responders during a crisis, such as when a child with an ASD goes missing, which sadly happens a lot.  There is a form for “Autism basics” for those that may be unaware of what Autism is and how individuals with Autism may react during interaction. One warning from this document is one everyone should keep in mind: frustration and anxiety are common.  One can well imagine that during  a crisis a person with ASD, who normally feels anxiety at most times, would feel anxiety at a heightened level when presented with EMTS and police officers. The lights and sounds may be overwhelming or underwhelming depending on the individual.  After all, like Stephen Shore says as quoted by Autism Speaks, "If you’ve met one person with autism – you’ve met one person with autism." That is why these two forms are so important to have handy and completed. A police officer responding to a disturbance call that a well-meaning neighbor made may well understand Autism in a general sense, but may not know your child with Autism.

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