General Safety
Autism Speaks Safety Project is designed to provide families affected by autism with tips, information, expert advice and resources so that everyone in our community can stay out of harm's way. This section of the website provides safety resources on a variety of topics.
The National Autism Association is committed to those with an ASD who may be prone to wandering off or eloping from a safe environment, and may be unable to recognize danger and/or stay safe. Wandering, elopement, “running” or fleeing behaviors among those within our community not only present unique safety risks, but also create extraordinary worry and stress among caregivers. Drowning fatalities following wandering incidents remain a leading cause of death among those with ASD.
Autism Risk Management provides autism training and resources for law enforcement, emergency first responders, parents, educators, care providers, and the autism community by Dennis Debbaudt, a parent of a son with autism and professional investigator and law enforcement trainer. He has authored or co-authored over 30 articles and books since 1993 including Autism, Advocates and Law Enforcement Professionals: Recognizing and Reducing Risk Situations for People with Autism Spectrum Disorders, articles for the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin (April, 2001), and many other law enforcement and autism publications. Note the downloadable resources in the right column of the website, including Autism and Airport Safety, [pdf] Plan Your Response to an Emergency, Autism and Public Restrooms, Are You Prepared for an Autism Emergency? and an Autism Emergency Contact Form.
Safe Kids Worldwide provides a large variety of safety tips for children of all ages and levels of functioning.
Wandering
Wandering is the tendency for an individual to try to leave the safety of a responsible person’s care or a safe area, which can result in potential harm or injury. This might include running off from adults at school or in the community, leaving the classroom without permission, or leaving the house when the family is not looking. This behavior is considered common and short-lived in toddlers, but it may persist or re-emerge in children and adults with autism. Children with autism have challenges with social and communication skills and safety awareness. This makes wandering a potentially dangerous behavior. Wandering may also be referred to as Elopement; Bolting; Fleeing; Running. [AWAARE website}
The Big Red Safety Box Toolkit includes the following resources:
1) Get REDy booklet [pdf] containing the following educational materials and tools:
- A caregiver checklist
- A Family Wandering Emergency Plan
- A first-responder profile form
- A wandering-prevention brochure
- A sample IEP Letter
- A Student Profile Form
plus Door/Window Alarms with batteries, Personalized, Engraved Shoe ID Tag, Laminated Adhesive Stop Sign Visual Prompts for doors and windows, Safety Alert Window Clings for car or home windows, and a Red Safety Alert Wristband. Phone: 877.622.2884
The Autism Wandering Awareness Alerts Response and Education (AWAARE) Collaboration [pdf] is another critical section of the NAT website with a Family Wandering Emergency Plan [pdf]
A Safety Harness [pdf] may be necessary when you are in public with your child.
Autism Speaks also provides resources for wandering.
Water Safety
In 2009, 2010, and 2011, accidental drowning accounted for 91% total U.S. deaths reported in children with an ASD ages 14 and younger subsequent to wandering/elopement. [pdf- LETHAL outcomes]
The Autism Speaks Swimming and Water Safety Scholarship Fund selects eligible organizations and programs to identify qualified financially disadvantaged individuals with autism and offer scholarship funds for swimming and water safety lessons. Important Note: Individuals on the autism spectrum and their families may not apply for the program. However, Autism Speaks encourages families to contact local organizations providing swimming lessons and ask them to submit an application.
Swim and water safety lessons for children with special needs. Find your YMCA here.
Be sure that your child’s last lesson is with his/her clothes and shoes on.
return to top |