News and Knowledge

For many parents of children with autism, even the most straightforward safety concerns can be overwhelming, often lasting into the child’s adulthood. There are questions that other parents don’t have to worry about in the same way, like, “Will my nonverbal child with autism know how to ask for help when he gets lost?” or “How do I prevent people from taking advantage of my child, who doesn’t fully understand how money works?”

Without resources or experiences to draw on, these concerns can seem impossible to handle alone.

With the recent release of the long-awaited A Guide to Safety, the eighth installment to the Life Journey through Autism series, parents now have a resource they can rely on for answers to those questions and help in keeping their child safe. Reviewers’ comments describe the reasons why parents and others will be happy to have it:

• “The guide is fantastic; parents and teachers really need something like this … It is very thorough and covers every domain in a very easily understood manner.” – Autism specialist                                                

•  “What you have is amazing. … This is a really great tool for parents … I would love a copy  …” – Autism safety officer

• “This may give families additional ideas on how to share their plan [with schools and law enforcement].” – Parent, autism advocate, and consultant           

OAR released the guide for download on December 19. It will be available in published form starting January 15.

Take a Peek Inside the Safety Guide

Written in collaboration with parents, first responders, educators, and autism advocates in the community, the guide can be used to strengthen family safety plans in preparation for those unexpected emergencies. It examines a range of safety risks that arise during childhood, adolescence, and adulthood and offers strategies to address them, including how to navigate those critical conversations about trust and social awareness.

Parents can read information on the safety topics of most concern, including:

• Wandering and elopement
• Interaction with law enforcement
• Physical and sexual safety
• Bullying
• Internet safety
• Handling money

The guide also includes appendices that contain useful tools, forms, and information, such as:

• Sample identification documents
• Wandering log sheet
• Advice from an adult self-advocate
• How to talk to a neighbor about wandering
• School safety and crisis planning
• Evidence-based safety skills lessons

For first responders, the guide makes an excellent foundation for designing autism safety programs for the community.

  
With Thanks to All Who Helped

Life Journey Through Autism: A Guide to Safety would not have been possible without the collaborative efforts of all those involved in the production. Thank you to the parents, first responders, educators, other professionals, and community members for participating in the surveys and sharing their expertise.

Get Your Copy Today

A Guide to Safety is available online at OAR’s Web site for viewing and downloading.
Hard copies are also available starting January 15. If you are interested in receiving a hard copy, order through our store.
After getting your copy, remember to share the news with other people who may benefit from using A Guide to Safety.
For additional information about A Guide to Safety, contact Kimberly Ha, programs and outreach associate, at 703-243-9762, or email.