Keeping people with autism safe, wandering/eloping advice, water safety, school safety, ways to handle emergency situations.
When it comes to being safe at home or out in the world, our children and all of us as parents and guardians need to understand the potential dangers so we can plan ahead, teach, and help keep everyone secure. Many parents who are adjusting to their child’s individual patterns of behavior can be surprised
in Autism Safety by Lt. Joseph Pangaro, CPM, CSO, MOI
Young people on the spectrum and the law enforcement community can, and do, come into contact all the time. The resultant interaction can be beneficial for both groups or it can become problematic. The question is why it would be a problem and how can we change the dynamic to ensure the encounters are positive?
in Autism Safety by Lt. Joseph Pangaro, CPM, CSO, MOI
A veteran police officer shares an on-duty interaction with an autistic teen that inspired lifelong efforts to bridge special needs knowledge gaps in law enforcement. Many years ago, when I was a new police officer, I was sent to the home of a woman who was having trouble with her 16-year-old son. That was all
in Autism Safety by Lt. Joseph Pangaro, CPM, CSO, MOI
Research has shown children with autism are more prone to being involved in motor accidents than neurotypical children—potentially because motorists are unaware of the challenges many of these children encounter when exposed to everyday traffic. A lack of road-safety measures, coupled with the child’s inability to recognize danger, has resulted in too many autistic victims
in Autism Safety by Okonkwo Noble
While special care needs to be taken by all parents to ensure their children are safe, even more attention than usual can be required in autism families. Taking care of a child with autism means dealing with the constant worry about keeping him/her safe, which can be exhausting and stressful—but it isn’t the world’s end.
in Autism Safety by Okonkwo Noble
When firefighters are called, the situation is usually very dangerous. They have to move fast to keep everyone safe. The general community understands how to respond when firefighters are on the scene. But those with autism, maybe even your son or daughter, don’t necessarily know what to do. So parents need to be proactive, not
in Autism Safety by Karen Kaplan, MS
It is a common belief in the ASD community that kids with ASD “love water.” While this could be an overgeneralized claim, caregivers frequently share, blog, and post web comments related to water. Anecdotes like “he repeatedly turns on the taps to watch water run but doesn’t bother with water in a bowl,” “pours water
in Autism Safety by Christopher Bloh, PhD, BCBA-D
It was a beautiful day in early autumn. I was in my mother’s backyard with my children, draining a little pool we had set up for them. I wanted to take them in and get them dried off because we were about to have some lunch. My mother had wisely installed a latticed room on
in Autism Safety by Kate Foley
It can be easy to forget that children with autism can have physical concerns in addition to behavioral challenges. Balance, coordination, and motor skills can sometimes be delayed or difficult for some children on the spectrum, so physical tasks like riding a bike might take some time to learn. In this article, we explore how
in Autism Safety by Kim Barloso, AB
Each day children wake up and get ready to attend school. During that process, every parent expects that their child will arrive back home in the same condition as when he/she left. Current estimates suggest that 1:3 girls and 1:10 boys will be sexually abused by the time they are 18 years old (Tang, Freyd,
in Autism Safety by Ron Malcolm, EdD
When you’re a parent of a child of any age with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), you’re always on the lookout for possible problems. As children get older, problems get more complicated—what used to be unexpected swerves and bumps can become potholes and landmines with serious consequences. Sexual harassment is a land mine. The issue surrounding
in Autism Safety by Marcia Eckerd, PhD
It’s a sad fact that school shootings have become quite common. 2018 is already on track to be a deadlier year than 2017. Last year 25 students or teachers were killed in school shootings. So far, in 2018, there has been a 63% increase in deaths from school shootings. As a result, most schools now
in Autism Safety by Sandy Fields, BAPSY
As parents, we always want what is best for our children. This means we have to create a balance between pleasure and safety when planning activities for our children. This is even more important when a child is very young and has autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or other special needs, as safety planning entails extra
in Autism Safety by Sandra Tirone
The Internet has been a game changer. It is estimated that 95% of teenagers aged 12-17 are online.While the Internet has connected us to others and made information much more accessible, it also poses a tremendous potential threat to your child’s safety if left to his/her own devices.Essentially, the Internet presents us a means by
in Autism Safety by Sarah Kupferschmidt, MA, BCBA
All parents are natural planners. As the parent of a child with a disability and a professional who assists communities and emergency planners with inclusive emergency plans, I know how much more critical emergency planning is for individuals with disabilities. My daughter has the Angelman syndrome, a rare condition that limits her independence. I’m concerned
in Autism Safety by Sue Wolf-Fordham, JD
Behavioral experts say one of the key things teachers should know when dealing with a child on the autism spectrum is to not take that child’s seemingly rude or aggressive behavior personally. Just as with any child, they say, various circumstances can trigger special needs children to express enjoyment, anger, sadness, as well as any
in Autism Safety by Areva Martin
Disability awareness training needed Since 2014, there has been an increased national awareness regarding how police interact with the public during arrests and emergency situations. The autism community is no exception. During search and rescue missions, crime scene investigation, medical emergencies, and human services investigations, the way in which police and other first responders serve
in Autism Safety by Katherine G. Hobbs, AA
Dressing up is a fun way to teach imaginative play and is often used as a theme at school or daycare. It is also a tradition for those who celebrate Halloween and trick or treating. Recently, my son’s daycare asked that all girls arrive to school in a princess theme costume and all boys arrive
in Autism Safety by Sarah Kupferschmidt, MA, BCBA
Swimming offers numerous rewards—whether you’re a child enjoying the summer, an adult wanting to blow off steam after a long day at work, or someone trying to get some low-impact exercise. When it comes to autistic children being near the pool, however, many parents are hesitant to include them, as they are concerned about safety.
in Autism Safety by Sherley Alaba
Friendship can lead to some of the most amazing achievements. When Sharon Jalette of Farmingville, NY, was asked by a friend to create an identifying tag for her nonverbal child with autism to wear in the car in the event of an emergency, she jumped at the chance to help. As the child of a
in Autism Safety by Amy Tobik, BA
After your child has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a rush of thoughts may invade your mind. Many questions might run through your mind: what do I do next? How do I prepare? Why has this happened? How do I cope? Though each question is valid, sometimes the uncertainty of it all can
in Autism Safety by Natasha Barber
Every school must prepare for the unthinkable: violence in the building. That violence can come from two specific sources: an “internal” source, like a student in the school, or an “external” source, like an intruder that gets into the building with the intent to hurt or kill people. Our administrators, teachers, support staff, and students
in Autism Safety by Lt. Joseph Pangaro, CPM, CSO, MOI
If you are a parent to a child with autism, then you may have a child who tries or has tried to escape or elope from your home, your supervision when in public or even from their classroom at school. It can be scary if you think you have 60 seconds to run to the
in Autism Safety by Hallie Bulkin, MA, CCC-SLP
Terrorism, school shootings, disastrous weather — these are just a few sobering reminders of the sometimes unpredictable world we live in. In times of distress, children with autism especially need our help to navigate such confusing and scary moments. If warranted, assistance from a qualified professional such as a psychologist, social worker, or counselor should
in Autism Safety by Karen Kabaki-Sisto, MS, CCC-SLP
Summer is a time children often look forward to because it means a break from school for a few months. No strict schedules — no classes — no homework. But for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a change in daily routine can actually create new stressors. Children with ASD are often rigid and inflexible
in Autism Safety by Alison Schmeer, MS
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