5 Ways Autism Skills Can Help Emergency Responders On Scene
The nature of my training classes unfortunately tend to focus on the struggles and deficits side of the autism spectrum, as this is the primary way for responders to quickly identify someone as...
View ArticleAutism in the Emergency Room
Autism families learn fast and early how to effectively anticipate and manage a crisis. When that crisis involves a trip to the emergency room, it can escalate quickly due to the sights, sounds,...
View ArticleHalloween Safety for Autism Parents and First Responders
Halloween has always been the most important holiday in our house. My daughter would beg me to put up the decorations on September 1st, and then submit long-winded arguments for putting Santa hats on...
View ArticleAutism Tips for Emergency Responders: Pain Perception
Identifying sensory issues have always played a large role in autism. In fact, it’s what finally led my son to a correct diagnosis. I spend nearly one-third of my autism training class talking about...
View ArticleDoes Weather Affect Autistic Behaviors?
Anyone in the Atlanta area can attest to how dreary and frustrating it’s been to wake up to recent days of endless rain. I feel like it’s been raining for months straight! Memes are starting to pop up...
View Article1 in 45 Children Now Diagnosed with Autism: Should We Be Worried?
It’s time to update my website, brochures and training materials again… according to the latest numbers released from the CDC this past Friday (the 13th!), 1 in 45 children in the United States has an...
View ArticleAutism and Shoplifting
The holiday season is finally upon us. For most civilians that means family gatherings, Black Friday deals, tons of decadent treats, trimming the tree and more. For some public safety personnel, it...
View ArticleAutism Tips for Emergency Responders: Inappropriate Words
Ah, the art of communication. It comes so easily to most of us. But for someone with autism, even if they are completely verbal, it is a almost always a challenge. Yesterday my son was having a really...
View ArticleAutism and Sleep Deprivation
As an autism parent, I’m no stranger to sleep deprivation. When my son was a toddler it used to take HOURS to get him to sleep. If (not when) I was successful, he would wake up around 1 am, just as I...
View ArticleAutism, Depression and Suicide
Today I read a very moving post on EverydayAspergers.com, a blog that helps raise awareness about Asperger’s and females. The entire article really opened my eyes to my 17 year old daughter’s mental...
View ArticleAutism Tips for Emergency Responders: Adult Meltdowns
Often when I begin one of my autism training classes for public safety professionals I have to quickly debunk the myth that autism is a “kid” thing. Especially when we talk about meltdowns. Yes, I talk...
View ArticleAutism Tips for Emergency Responders: It’s Not Altered Mental Status
I’m going to be boldly honest right now about how things are for us sometimes, because I believe it can help responders understand more about interacting with autistic individuals. This is my son…...
View ArticleAutism Tips for Emergency Responders: Autism vs. Asperger Syndrome
I often get asked, “What’s the difference between autism and Asperger’s? Are they both considered autism? Are they the same thing? And what the heck is PDD-NOS?” Just when I had a handle on everything,...
View ArticleAutism Tips for Emergency Responders: No Eye Contact
I read an awesome article on TheMighty.com that asked 16 different people on the autism spectrum to describe why making eye contact can be difficult for them. Any insights like this help me be a better...
View ArticleAutism Safety Tips for Playing Pokémon GO
Sometimes, autistic people can be a bit rigid in their behaviors and averse to new experiences. My daughter, especially, who has a high level of social anxiety, has a really hard time with any type of...
View ArticleLessons I Learned Encountering a Lost Autistic Child at the Air Show
A Guest Post By Austin Harris, Emergency Medical First Responder, Autism Specialist, CERT Instructor Air shows can be fun for kids of all ages… but add autism to the mix and you may have a crisis in...
View ArticleAutism Anxiety: It’s Not What You Think
As an emergency responder, I’m sure you’ve had “that call” a bunch of times… it comes in as heart attack or chest pain, and you drive lights and sirens to the call location only to find out your...
View ArticleAutism and Bullying
In late 2009 I packed my house, my kids and my dog and moved us to Knoxville, TN on a whim. It took much longer to drive a 27′ truck (that was towing my ’96 Chevy Blazer) filled with 5 years worth of...
View ArticleAutism: Don’t Stand So Close to Me
Picture this: you respond to a call for a 26 y/o male “not acting right” (that’s about the extent of information WE get from dispatch, anyway ). You arrive on scene and are immediately approached by a...
View ArticleManaging Autism Meltdowns Before They Escalate
I’ve spent the last several years teaching emergency responders how to recognize someone as autistic, whether it’s a police matter, medical emergency or search and rescue call. This training has...
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