Autism Safety
Dear Red Tape,
My son, Sam, is 6 and has PDD and a clinical diagnosis of Mito. Sam has many health issues that kids with Mito frequently have, like problems with overheating, dehydration with even minor viruses, and fatigue (although he gets really hyperactive before he crashes, which is next to impossible to get his teachers to understand!) Our biggest concern right now is safety. Sam escapes from the house and runs into the road, and doesn’t stop for traffic. When we go shopping I have to keep him buckled into the shopping cart, which makes people stare and make rude comments. Sam eats food he finds laying around and even food that has been thrown away, which could be extremely dangerous because he has a severe peanut allergy. We need to put up a fence in our back yard so that he can play safely but we just can’t afford it. How can we explain his wandering behavior to other people? I’m so tired of hearing that Sam needs more discipline and I’m babying him, he needs a spanking, and so on. My husband and I end up arguing about Sam’s needs and our finances, and our marriage is suffering. No one seems to understand what we’re going through. I feel so isolated. Please help!
Charlotte in PA
Dear Charlotte,
As the parent of a child with Mito and Autism as well, I can certainly empathize with your fear, frustration, and exhaustion. Fortunately, there are products and programs that can help keep our children safe, alert our communities about the dangers of wandering behavior, and support to lessen the negative impact these problems are having on your family’s relationship and overall well-being.
The first challenge is to ensure that your home is as safe as possible for your son. The National Autism Association is currently offering The Big Red Safety Box to families with children on the spectrum who are at risk for wandering. The America Legion Child Welfare Foundation has provided these materials through a very generous gift. Read about the contents of the Big Red Box and request your free safety kit by going here. After requesting your family’s kit, please consider visiting the American Legion Child Welfare Foundation to thank them for their generosity.
AWAARE The National Autism Association, in addition to providing the Big Red Safety Box, sponsors the AWAARE Collaboration, which stands for Autism Wandering Awareness Alerts Response Education. This link has extensive education regarding wandering and safety at each stage of social development as well as information about educating your child and the community. The program even offers suggestions for IEP goals and strategies related to personal safety awareness. Check the Resource section for more information regarding:
- Child safety products like seat belt opening deterrents, cabinet locks, furniture securing systems, window guards, and much more.
- Identification systems
- GPS systems
- Autism service dogs
- Information for first responders, including USB devices for recording medical information
The Safety Sleeper is a safe, portable, fully-enclosed bed that works with any twin mattress or could be used as a free-standing portable bed for children with special needs. It easily assembles and disassembles like a tent and does not look “institutional” at all. The site includes tips for applying for insurance reimbursement.
Lean On Us: The Law Enforcement Awareness Network is an organization “providing first responders with information and resources that will allow them to better serve individuals within the community affected by hidden disabilities and mental illness.”
Project Lifesaver is a community program that provides tracking devices for individuals who may wander due to Autism, Alzheimers, developmental disabilities, head injuries, and other conditions. The program needs to be established by each individual community, which involves fundraising and awareness campaigns. See the website for details and suggestions.
Autism Risk Management provides safety information for emergency personnel, educators, nurses, parents and family members.
Do you need financial assistance for GPS systems, alarms, fences, and other safety equipment? Talk About Curing Autism provides an excellent, detailed spreadsheet outlining several grants available to families with children (and sometimes adults) with Autism. You can find the grant listings here.
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