au#sm Lori McIlwain, Execu#ve Director AUTISM SAFETY TRAINING 2014
au#sm UTISM IS A DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY THAT CAN CAUSE SIGNIFICANT SOCIAL, COMMUNICATION & BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES. 1 IN 68 CHILDREN HAVE AUTISM
A DIAGNOSIS OF AUTISM NOW INCLUDES SEVERAL CONDITIONS THAT USED TO BE DIAGNOSED SEPARATELY: AUTISTIC DISORDER, PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER NOT OTHERWISE SPECIFIED (PDD- NOS), AND ASPERGER SYNDROME. THESE CONDITIONS ARE NOW ALL CALLED AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER (ASD).
AUTISM OCCURS IN ALL RACIAL, ETHNIC, AND SOCIOECONOMIC GROUPS.
AUTISM IS 5X MORE COMMON AMONG BOYS ASD OCCURS IN ALL RACIAL, ETHNIC, AND SOCIOECONOMIC GROUPS,
THERE IS OFTEN NOTHING ABOUT HOW PEOPLE WITH AUTISM LOOK THAT SETS THEM APART FROM OTHER PEOPLE.
au#sm AUTISM HAS MANY SYMPTOMS THAT VARY FROM PERSON TO PERSON, BUT THERE ARE CONSISTENT HALLMARKS. SOMEONE WITH AUTISM MIGHT: not speak avoid eye contact want to be alone want to wear no clothing appear deaf wear a diaper repeat or echo words (echolalia) repeat ac#ons over and over again dislike change And
HAVE UNUSUAL REACTIONS TO THE WAY THINGS SMELL, TASTE, LOOK, FEEL, OR SOUND.
IT S ESTIMATED THAT 25% CANNOT SPEAK.
au#sm OTHER COMMON TRAITS OF NOTE: hyper/hypo sensi#vity to pain. no fear of danger or understanding of consequences. extreme phobias may take figura#ve language in a literal way. for example, sit down in the chair would be beder understood over take a seat.
au#sm ADDITIONAL TRAITS OF NOTE: Fecal smearing Head- banging, self injury Unusual fascina#ons Narrow food preferences Pica No interest in toys Co- exis#ng condi#ons: epilepsy, insomnia, allergies, GI issues, asthma
au#sm THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE WITH AUTISM STIM, WHICH COMES FROM THE TERM SELF- STIMULATING Examples: rocking; spinning; flapping hands; flicking fingers; verbal repe##on My child s#ms on roadway signs. She s s#mming on end credits. She s doing happy s#ms right now. He s angry s#mming right now.
BULLYING PHYSICAL ASSAULT SEXUAL ABUSE SUICIDE DEATH
IMAGINE WORKING OFF VERY LITTLE SLEEP. YOU VE DRANK SIX POTS OF STRONG COFFEE ON AN EMPTY STOMACH. YOU RE SITTING UNDER FLICKERING FLORESCENT LIGHTS. YOU RE HUNGRY. ITCHY. UNABLE WHAT IS STIM, OR STIMMING? TO SIT STILL. ALL YOU HEAR ARE NAILS ON THE CHALKBOARD, AND THE WORLD AROUND YOU ASKING QUESTIONS IN A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE. YOU D LIKE TO SPEAK UP, BUT THE WORDS WON T COME OUT. COMES FROM THE PHRASE SELF- STIMULATING rocking back and forth flapping hands have unusual reac#ons to the way flick fingers hyperlaugh, things smell, taste, look, feel, or sound verbal repe##on THIS IS EVERYDAY FROM MANY WITH AUTISM. My child s#ms on roadway signs. She s s#mming on end credits. She s doing happy s#ms right now. He s angry s#mming right now.
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CHILDREN WITH AUTISM ARE HIGHLY ATTRACTED TO WATER.
AUTISM IS A SPECTRUM DISORDER. NO TWO PEOPLE WITH AUTISM ARE ALIKE.
au#sm IF YOU VE MET ONE PERSON WITH AUTISM, YOU VE MET ONE PERSON WITH AUTISM. FUNCTION LEVEL LOW MODERATE HIGH Nonverbal Low to no self- help skills Low to no socials skills Intellectual disability Minimal to limited language Limited self- help skills Limited social skills Wide gap IQ Moderate to high language func#on Higher self- help skills Higher social skills Higher IQ
au#sm IF YOU VE MET ONE PERSON WITH AUTISM, YOU VE MET ONE PERSON WITH AUTISM. FUNCTION LEVEL LOW MODERATE HIGH Nonverbal Low to no self- help skills Low to no socials skills Intellectual disability Minimal to limited language Limited self- help skills Limited social skills Wide gap IQ Moderate to high language func#on Higher self- help skills Higher social skills Higher IQ
au#sm HIGH FUNCTIONING DOES NOT MEAN LOW RISK. RISK LEVEL HIGH accidents abuse/assault/homicide untreated medical issues self- injury Pica seizures MORE LIKELY TO WANDER HIGH accidents abuse/assault/homicide untreated medical issues self- injury seizures encounters with strangers suicide HIGH abuse/assault/homicide seizures encounters with strangers suicide MORE LIKELY TO BE LOST
au#sm REGARDLESS OF FUNCTION LEVEL, MOST PEOPLE WITH AUTISM FACE SAFETY RISKS. RISK LEVEL HIGH HIGH HIGH accidents abuse/assault/homicide untreated medical issues self- injury pica Seizures MORE LIKELY TO WANDER accidents abuse/assault/homicide untreated medical issues self- injury seizures encounters with strangers suicide abuse/assault/homicide seizures encounters with strangers suicide MORE LIKELY TO BE LOST
49% OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM WANDER CHILDREN WITH AUTISM ARE OR HIGHLY BOLT FROM ATTRACTED TO WATER. SAFE SETTINGS.
49% OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM WANDER CHILDREN WITH AUTISM ARE OR HIGHLY BOLT FROM ATTRACTED TO WATER. SAFE SETTINGS. 8x THE RATE OF UNAFFECTED SIBLINGS.
50% OF FAMILIES REPORT NEVER HAVING RECEIVED GUIDANCE OR ADVICE FROM A SERVICE PROFESSIONAL.
50% OF FAMILIES REPORT NEVER HAVING RECEIVED GUIDANCE OR ADVICE FROM A SERVICE PROFESSIONAL. 40% OF PARENTS REPORT SLEEP DISRUPTION FOR FEAR OF WANDERING.
SINCE 2009, 74 CHILDREN HAVE CHILDREN WITH AUTISM ARE HIGHLY DIED AFTER WANDERING ATTRACTED TO WATER. FROM A SAFE SETTING.
91 % OF WANDERING- RELATED DEATHS ARE CAUSED BY DROWNING.
OTHER CAUSES: CHILDREN WITH TRAFFIC AUTISM INJURIES ARE HIGHLY ATTRACTED EXPOSURE TO WATER. STRUCK BY TRAIN
au#sm SEARCHING FOR A PERSON WITH AUTISM MAY GREATLY DIFFER FROM THAT OF A TYPICAL SEARCH. DIFFERENCES IN A SEARCH TYPICAL MISSING PERSON MISSING PERSON WITH AUTISM will answer to name may call out for help can approach a trusted person for help understands danger understands verbal commands will not hide from police normal response to search aids and k9s May not answer to name May be unable to call out for help May not approach a trusted person for help May not understand danger May not respond to verbal commands May hide from police Atypical response to search aids and k9s
CHILDREN WITH AUTISM ARE HIGHLY ATTRACTED TO WATER.
WHERE TO SEARCH: WATER (EVEN IF PARENT SAYS NO) TRAFFIC CHILDREN WITH FAVORITE AUTISM PLACES ARE HIGHLY ATTRACTED TRANSIT TO SYSTEMS WATER. ENCLOSED SPACES OPEN AREAS BARNS, FIELDS, WOODS PARKS
HOST AN AUTISM SAFETY DAY SAFETY BOOTH AT A COMMUNITY EVENT. ASKS LOCAL MEDIA TO FEATURE A STORY CHILDREN WITH AUTISM ARE HIGHLY ON THE AUTISM- WANDERING ATTRACTED TO WATER. VISIT KNOWN SPECIAL NEEDS SCHOOLS OR FACILITIES IN THE AREA. DOWNLOAD TOOLKITS FROM AWAARE.ORG.
NATIONAL AUTISM ASSOCIATION AUTISM/WANDERING RESPONSE TIMELINE 11.14 TIMELINE NAA began collec#ng data Wandering Diagnos#c Code Goes Into Effect NAA provided tracking funding IACC Leder to Secretary Sebelius for agencies NAA Big Red Safety Boxes Launched NAA s FOUND Established Preliminary Data Released NAA Calls for AMBER/Silver Alert Modifica#ons NAA IACC Presenta#on Children s Health Group NAA Ongoing Training DoE Leder 2009 2011 2013 2008 2010 2012 2014 NAA IACC Statement NAA IACC Presenta#on IACC Safety Subcommidee Created AWAARE Collabora#on Created Federal Search/Rescue Guidelines Created Data Published in Pediatrics NAA Lethal Outcomes White Paper NAA Big Red Safety Toolkits & Booth NAA YMCA List PSA Campaign with NCMEC 14,000 Big Red Safety Boxes distributed to date ipads/aac Devices Reviewing underlying condi#ons/ root causes Research on Auditory Sensi#vi#es as cause Swim lessons/ada Title III Call for DoE Policy Guidelines and FDA Oversight on tracking technology
au#sm NAA OFFERS EXTENSIVE TOOLS AT OUR AWAARE.ORG SITE, OR WRITE TO LORI@NATIONALAUTISM.ORG. BIG RED SAFETY BOX
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