FAQautism

When kayaking with my family on a sunny, calm day on the Texas coast last week, we heard a message warning of an impending emergency evacuation due to an approaching hurricane. The experience brought to mind the need for families to plan in advance for unanticipated emergencies and evacuations. A key element in that plan is some sort of fool-proof identification in the event a person with autism is unexpectedly separated from familiar people.


It is very easy to assume that we will never encounter the need for an emergency evacuation, especially when the skies are clear, birds are singing, and all is right with the world. But, obviously, we must plan in advance so things can go as smoothly as possible for our friends with autism in the event of an unexpected emergency. Some families have evacuation drills with these elements:
1. Teach everyone to stay calm and to follow the instructions of authorities.
2. Keep an “evacuation pack” readily available with critical meds and non-electric cell phone chargers. Also include food for individuals with autism who have strict dietary restrictions as well as some familiar objects to prevent behavior explosions due to unfamiliar surroundings.
3. Develop a system for fool-proof identification. Some of my friends with autism wear dog tags with rubberized borders to prevent clinking sounds. Because the most articulate, cognizant person with autism can get flustered in an unfamiliar setting, the dog tag includes the person’s name and diagnosis as well as the name of a contact person and a reliable cell-phone number. If your friend with autism is non-verbal or is not likely to talk to a stranger, it works well to state that fact on the dog tag.

We welcome your ideas and your experiences with evacuations and emergency situations. Just send a Seesmic reply, or click on the comments button, or send an e-mail to talk@FAQautism.com.

NOTE TO READERS AND LISTENERS: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. Feel free to send me an email with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solution. Send email to talk@FAQautism.com And don’t forget to check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. http://FAQautism.com

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