Resources for Safety Awareness

We worry what will happen if our child with a disability has an emergency or even a “melt-down” in public.  How will first responders react/interact with our children?  Will they be able to communicate with them?  Will they misunderstand the behaviors of our children?  Will they see them as a threat? How can we help first responders know how to work with our kids?

It takes a community effort! In an emergency, knowing how to work with people with disabilities is critical.  Children with intellectual or other disabilities may lack a sense of danger.  It can be difficult to teach them safety rules.  We must prepare our children how to work with first responders and other security professionals.

Call your local fire department and ask when you can bring your child for a visit.  Help your child and the fire department staff get to know each other. See if a “Junior Deputy Academy” is offered in your area during the summer.  This is a week-long free half-day camp for youngsters.  The kids and law enforcement staff at the camp have a lot of fun while getting to know each other. 

Training first responders to see signs of a mental health disorder, intellectual disability, autism or other medical condition is critical.  Listed below are resources for training options and resources.  Much of the information is appropriate for all disabilities.

• The Wallet Card is a tool for a person with a disability to show their address, emergency contact and disability.  
• Law Enforcement, First Responders & People with Intellectual Disabilities is a webinar which offers awareness and training tools for first responders. 
• Autism Risk and Safety Management also has training and resources for first responders, parents, educators and more. 
• The Safe and Sound Campaign has information on general safety.  They also have tools to prepare for an emergency and more. 
• Be Safe The Movie  teaches teens and adults with autism and related disabilities to interact safely with the police. 
• Wings to Soar trains families with children with autism, airport staff and Transportation Security Administration agents on traveling through an airport with a child with autism. 
• Tip Sheets for First Responders offers help on how to work with people with a wide range of disabilities in emergency situations. 
• The Smoke & Fire Safety Action Planner provides tools for fire safety planning. 
• Another tool is the Any Baby Can of San Antonio Emergency Alert Card.