News and Knowledge

Dennis Debbaudt is the author of the book, Autism, Advocates and Law Enforcement Professionals, and parent of a young man with an autism spectrum disorder. He’s also written for the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin and Sheriff Magazine and contributed numerous reports and book chapters about this subject matter. He’s produced the training videos Autism & Law Enforcement, Autism, Fire-Rescue & EMS, and Autism in the Criminal Justice System.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) training for law enforcement, fire-rescue, and emergency medical first responders first came on the scene in the mid-1990s, a period when the autism community began reporting the beginning of a dramatic rise in ASD diagnoses. In 2012, ASD training for first responders and training tools — videos, curriculum and live training — have also seen tremendous growth in North America and globally.

Beyond the rise in diagnoses, why do first responders need this training? Here are a few reasons:

1. To become familiar with and safely respond to predictable field contacts involving persons with autism, enhance communications, manage the sensory environment, and de-escalate behavioral outbursts when they’re called to interact with persons with ASD.
2. To be aware of search and rescue operations in response to sadly predictable incidents of chronic, life-threatening wandering and increasing assistance calls to emergency 911 call centers when a person’s behavior has escalated beyond the control of care providers in the community, at school, or at home.
3. To provide emergency medical treatment or transport for a person with autism or his or her primary care provider during or in the aftermath of a fire, accident, sudden illness, or emergency for any reason.

While each child or adult with ASD is unique and may present his or her condition differently, first responders are trained to be alert to the sights and sounds displayed by some with ASD: persons covering their ears or eyes, rocking, pacing, or displaying hand and arm flapping. The discovery may come via a report using the word “autism” to 911 from a parent, care provider, or neighbor on scene.

Law enforcement and first responders are also being trained to look for specialty icons. If one is found, they will search for an Autism Emergency Contact Form in vehicles, purses, wallets, or in the home. When traveling in vehicles, parents and care providers can prominently place disclosure tools and icons such as autism car magnets, autism alert decals, autism puzzle ribbon magnets, or “I Love Someone With Autism” bumper stickers on vehicle bumpers and windows or, simply, an OAR gear T-shirt. The more independent person with autism may verbally disclose her or his autism and also carry an information card.

So, what are autism parents and advocates doing to plan their response for an autism emergency? They’re making it easier for first responders to know that the call they are on involves autism. How so?

By:

• Taking the guesswork out of the call
• Considering use of the icons of autism
• Developing an Autism Emergency Contact Form
• Lobbying for the development of 911 Alert programs at the Emergency Call Center

These proactive approaches are based on information sharing that is person-specific, which can result in more informed, effective, and safe interactions during and before autism-related field interactions.

Parents, educators, and advocates are also developing educational partnerships with law enforcement and first response agencies that serve their communities. Some examples include inviting first responders into classrooms and arranging frequent visits to or creating community days at fire, police, and emergency medical facilities where students can learn that people in uniform are safe people they can rely on for help during an emergency. And where first responders can get to know families affected by autism in the communities they serve.

Enjoy the articles in this month’s OARacle that provide more insight into current educational programs. When we address autism safety in partnership with our first response community, we all win!

Dennis Debbaudt’s Web sites offer information on managing autism safety and risk, autismriskmanagement.com and debbaudtlegacy.com. Contact him at: ddpi@flash.net.