Safety Concerns in Children and Adults with Autism

Safety Concerns in Children and Adults with Autism – The Autism Exchange

Introduction

Safety is an ongoing concern for children and adults with Autism. Most people with autism have a difficult time communicating, understanding and identifying dangerous situations. Common behaviors like wandering from his or her home or other settings also increases their risk of encountering dangerous situations. (Note: Elopement is another term used to describe autism wandering.) Safety also includes situations where a child explores dangerous places at home like gas stove knobs, unbuckling seat belts, or encountering a neighbor’s swimming pool. Communities are trying to build resources to help families and community members, like first responders, to connect and share important information that may help save a life. In addition, GPS tracking and locating devices are now available for parents to prevent losing their children.

Related Sites

AWAARE Collaboration
Description: This site is dedicated to helping and providing information specifically about Autism safety. It gives background to the dangers of wondering and information and tools for First Responders, doctors, school administrators.

National Autism Association
Description: This site provides safety information on wandering, restraint/seclusion, and bullying. It also provides information and safety forms that can be download.

Books

Show Me a Sign: An Interactive Reading Book about Safety Signs by Greenhouse Publications
Description: Written by a Special Education teacher of 16 years, this book is designed for children to be able to learn common safety signs in the home as well as the community. Once the child has mastered sign identification, they are encouraged to find these signs in an interactive and fun format that reinforces learning.

Online Safety for Children and Teens on the Autism Spectrum: A Parent's and Carer's Guide by Nicola Lonie
Description: This guide is extremely valuable for parents of children, teens, and young adults with autism who are concerned with on-line safety. Providing an education in protection from internet obsession, cyberbullying, computer hacking, and inappropriate social networking, this book is an absolute necessity for parents to regulate and facilitate their child’s computer time. Also, included is a dictionary for decoding slang as well as forms that can be downloaded to monitor internet use.

Tools

Feds Clarify How to Apply for Autism Tracking Devices
Description: Article on how to apply to the government for special tracking devices for autism.

Prevention Planning
Description: This article gives tips on how to create a Safety Plan, highlights danger zones in your home and school, and gives tips to help prevent wandering from home or while out in public.

Parent Forums/Blogs

Some forums require you to sign in to Yahoo or Facebook to locate forum names.

Forum/Blog Name: NAA Autism & Safety: Bullying Prevention
Description: Mission to raise awareness concerning autism and bullying.

Forum/Blog Name: NAA Autism & Safety: Wandering Prevention
Description: Mission to reduce autism-related wandering incidents and deaths by raising awareness.

Consumer Corner

GPS
Description: This product provides an out of range alarm.

ElectroFlip
Description: This company sells GPS tracking devices for children with Autism and adults with Alzheimer’s.

Community Library

Autism Risk Management
Description: Autism training and resources for law enforcement, emergency first responders, parents, educators, care providers and the autism community.

The Wallet Card Project
Description: The wallet card allows police officers to better communicate with people with ASD. It’s a free personalized identification card for teenagers and adults who have ASD and is designed to help them communicate with officers or first responders about their disability and some of the challenges they face.

(coming soon)