Plan Your Response for an Autism Emergency

Thoughts about personal safety and risk are found high on the list of concerns expressed by the global autism community. So, just what can we do to increase security and lower the risks? Beyond educating law enforcers, three approaches come to mind. One is to be prepared for an autism emergency. The second is to develop the ability to disclose our need for an accommodation. We can then display our resiliency to address these risks and share our autism spectrum knowledge with those that need to know now. All are proactive options that, with a little effort, can become part of our daily routines. To help ensure safety and lower risk for a child or adult with autism, parents and care providers will need to become proactive and prepare an informational handout. A leading cause for concern are children and adults who run away or wander from parents and care providers. Tragically, children and adults with autism are often attracted to water sources such as pools, ponds, and lakes. Drowning is a leading cause of death for a child or adult who has autism. Wandering can also lead to high-risk field contacts with law enforcement or members of the general public. Preparing for a wandering incident may seem extreme for some families. After all, their child or adult hasnʼt wandered or bolted. Yet, for many other families, addressing wandering th