We all encounter safety situations in our daily lives; for individuals with autism and their families, there are often additional safety considerations. This month we are focusing on safety resources that cover a variety of topics:
GENERAL SAFETY
- Life Journey through Autism: Guide to Safety from the Organization for Autism Research provides safety information categorized for childhood, adolescence and adulthood. It addresses such topics as the threat spectrum, household safety, physical & sexual safety, environmental threats, wandering & elopement, relationships & bullying, internet safety and workplace safety. This guide is available to download as a PDF. AARC also has hard copies that can be requested on our website.
- Autism Safety Kit from Autism Speaks provides printable documents for creating a safety plan for individuals with autism, as well as tips for teaching safety skills to your child.
- Safety Teaching Stories by Autism Speaks & Twigtale are individualized safety teaching stories for supporting child safety skills.
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EMERGENCIES
Info for Emergency Responders:
- First Responder (EMS, Law Enforcement & Firefighters) Training: AARC provides FREE training to first responders on supporting individuals with autism, including common behaviors, supports, and providing for the safety of all parties. Request a training here. View/download our first responder brochures here.
Info for Guardians & Individuals:
- Smart911 provides a private, secure profile to share with first responders in the event of an emergency. Available through an app and online.
- Yellow Dot Program: This program is designed to alert first responders and law enforcement that someone in the vehicle has a medical condition and provides additional information. The AARC has Yellow Dot folders and decals available by request; please contact us at aarc@sesa.org for Yellow Dot materials.
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WANDERING, ELOPING, & MISSING INDIVIDUALS
- Big Red Safety Box has materials for families on supporting individuals who wander. You can apply for a grant to receive this kit. Free booklets can be downloaded from the website, too. Additional information on wandering can be found here.
- The National Child Identification Program sells a kit for collecting identifying information for locating children in the event they are missing. Information is maintained by parent/guardians and only provided in the event a child needs to be found. Kits may be ordered on their website, and AARC has some kits on hand that you may request by emailing aarc@sesa.org
- *Project Lifesaver is a program that assists in tracking and finding individuals who wander. The following agencies in Alaska participate in Project Lifesaver:
- Anchorage Search Team: 907-764-6511
- MATSAR Search & Rescue (Palmer): 907-745-6727
- Alaska State Troopers (Fairbanks): 907-451-5100
*Enrollment options vary depending on the agency. Learn more about enrollment by contacting your local Project Lifesaver agency or visit the
Project Lifesaver website.
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SAFEY FOR YOUNG ADULTS/ADOLESCENTS
- Online Safety & Cyberbullying guide provides information for individuals with autism on internet and social network safety, cyberbullying, online dating, understanding context and providing for your child’s online safety.
- Autism Behind the Wheel provides information on teaching individuals with autism to drive and includes information on determining readiness to drive and learning to drive.
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The resources of the month are available in the Special Education Service Agency (SESA) Library. Search for items on the
SESA website
, or contact the librarian, Anne Freitag, at
afreitag@sesa.org
or 907-334-1301
Electronic books may be accessed from anywhere in the state. If you've used our ebooks before,
go to the login
page here. If you haven't, please contact Anne so she can set up a username and password for you.
Learn more about ebooks here
.
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The Aspie Girl's Guide to Being Safe with Men: The unwritten safety rules no-one is telling you
By Debi Brown; Foreword by Sarah Attwood
Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2013. ISBN: 9781849053549
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Description: This is essential reading for every girl and woman on the autism spectrum, from age 13 upwards. Appreciating that Aspies need explanations to be explicit and comprehensive, Debi Brown provides sound, practical strategies for staying safe in many different situations, sensitively yet honestly explaining what the Aspie girl's rights and choices are, and how to act on her choices to stay safe.
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Autism Life Skills: From communication and safety to self-esteem and more--10 essential abilities every child needs and deserves to learn
By Chantal Sicile-Kira
Perigee, 2008. ISBN: 9780399534614
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Description: "This book covers these ten essential life skills: making sense of the world, communication, safety, self-esteem, pursuing interests, self-regulation, independence, social relationships, self-advocacy, earning a living." - Cover
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The Bubble Wrap Queen
By Julia Cook; Illustrated by Allison Valentine
National Center for Youth Issues, 2008. ISBN: 9781931636834
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Description: Bubble wrap is used to protect a child, until all the bubble wrap is gone. B.A.S.I.C.S (Be Aware and Safe In Common Situations) principles are put in action. For 4 & up ; grades K to 3.
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Bullying: What adults need to know and do to keep kids safe
By Irene Van der Zande
Kidpower Press, 2010. ISBN: 9780979619168
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Description: "These vivid stories, entertaining examples, and clear step-by-step explanations of what to say and do are relevant for addressing bullying with all young people, from toddlers to teenagers, and are even useful in dealing with adult-to-adult bullying." - Publisher.
Provided by Partners in Policymaking through funding from the Alaska Mental Health Trust
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Community Success
Attainment Co., 2013
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Description: "Videos take place in actual locations. Photos illustrate activities step by step. The short stories feature professional narration with highlighted text and emphasize safety, activity tips, and relevant vocabulary. " - Attainment Co. website. Helps students familiarize themselves with and rehearse many community activities. Divided up into six categories: eating out, shopping, going places, appointments, anyplace and important places.
System requirements: Windows XP or higher or Macintosh 10.6 or higher, Intel.
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Courageous Parents, Confident Kids: Letting go so you both can grow
Edited by Amy Tiemann
Spark Press, 2010. ISBN: 9780976498032
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Description: "gives you the practical skills and inspiration every family needs to grow up together. This is your guide to sustainable parenting that makes letting go a safer and happier process, every step of the way" - Cover, p. 4.
Provided by Partners in Policymaking through funding from the Alaska Mental Health Trust
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Dangerous Encounters: Avoiding perilous situations with autism: a streetwise guide for all emergency responders, retailers, and parents
By Bill Davis and Wendy Goldband Schunick
Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2002. ISBN: 9780585481302
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Description: This book explains what to look for and how to successfully handle encounters with people who have autism. It takes emergency responders and parents through everyday situations, stressing safety and awareness...In addition, this book is aimed at retailers and retail security, as people with autism can look extremely suspicious in shops... contains practical appendices, such as emergency ID card instructions and how to make a travel communication safety book, as well as safety social stories that teach a person with autism how to act safely in emergency situations.
This title is also available as an e-book; please contact the librarian for more information.
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Fullpower Safety Comics: Personal safety for teens and adults in cartoons and basic language
By Irene Van der Zande; Illustrated by Amanda Golert
Kidpower Teenpower Fullpower International, 2009/2012
ISBN: 9781480180710
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Description: "...black-and-white cartoons and basic language to explain personal safety concepts and skills to teens and adults. The humorous stories and clear directions make it easy and fun to introduce and practice personal skills in classrooms and other group settings. The situations described are appropriate for teens and adults who are at times out in public independently or home alone. The simple explanations and clear drawings can be used for people with developmental delays or whose first language is not English." Ages 13 through adult.
Provided by Partners in Policymaking through funding from the Alaska Mental Health Trust
NOTE: We have other KidPower safety comics; please ask!
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The Independent Woman's Handbook for Super Safe Living on the Autistic Spectrum
By Robyn Steward
Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2014. ISBN: 9781849053990
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Description: "Certain traits common to autism such as difficulty interpreting social cues can leave women susceptible to compromising their personal safety... this book is filled with practical advice (for ages 16 plus) on how to stay safe while living life to the full... Topics covered include friendships, relationships and sex, alcohol and drugs, money and employment, and staying safe outside of the home and online."
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Living Independently on the Autism Spectrum: What you need to know to move into a place of your own, succeed at work, start a relationship, stay safe, and enjoy life as an adult on the autism spectrum
By Lynne Soraya
Adams Media, 2013. ISBN: 9781440557644
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Description: "... covers many aspects of how young people can successfully navigate aspects of adult life, such as: self-awareness, self-knowledge, and advocacy; managing emotions; safety; relationships; employment" - author's website.
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No More Victims: Protecting those with autism from cyber bullying, Internet predators, & scams
By Dr. Jed Baker; Additional materials by Jennifer McIlwee Myers. Future Horizons Inc, 2013. ISBN: 9781935274926
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Description: The digital world offers a wonderful way to communicate with others, but is also rife with the dangers of being victimized emotionally, physically, and financially. Individuals with autism spectrum disorders are especially vulnerable to online predators. Baker shows kids-- and their parents-- what to look out for, and how to protect themselves when they're communicating online.
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Safety Skills Reader
By Tom Kinney; Illustrated by Gabe Eltaeb
Attainment Co Inc, 2008. ISBN: 9781578616565
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Description: "... features 26 illustrated stories covering essential everyday safety skills. Each four- to six-page story is wonderfully illustrated in a graphic novel style using adult characters with text written at a 3rd grade reading level—making it ideal for transition students with development disabilities. Teachers can read the story to the class and students follow along in their own book. Stories end with study questions and basic vocabulary definitions. ." - publisher website
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We Can Make it Better: A strategy to motivate and engage young learners in social problem-solving through flexible stories
By Elizabeth M. Delsandro; Foreword by Michelle Garcia Winner Think Social Publishing, 2010. ISBN: 9780982523131
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Description: "... Each story follows the same sequence, with the introduction of a familiar event or activity (such as playing a board game with a friend) and a set of social dilemmas related to the context. These dilemmas...occur between the characters of the story and lead to an undesirable conclusion or natural consequence (e.g., a character reconsiders playing with his or her peer, quits the game and goes home). Each story invites the learners to "make it better," resulting in active verbal problem- solving and a more preferred ending or outcome to the story." - Publisher's website
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Alaska Autism Resource Center | 866-301-7372 | aarc@sesa.org | www.AlaskaARC.org
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