Autism Speaks and NCMEC Training First Responders

March 24, 2016 7:52 am

By: Melissa Randall

mrandall@abc6.com

@MRandallABC6

As the number of people who are diagnosed with autism increases, so do concerns about the safety of those individuals. On Wednesday first responders from across New England took part in training that will help them respond more effectively to emergencies involving children and adults with autism spectrum disorder.

“We have over 250 law enforcement officers here plus firefighters here,” said Trooper Nicole Morell who is the AMBER coordinator for Massachusetts. “Obviously, they saw a need for it.”

Mass State Police hosted the training event which was co-presented by ‘Autism Speaks’ and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

One of the biggest issues discussed was wandering. 50% of people with autism risk straying from safety, according to advocates.

“They can be hyper focused on certain things and maybe they don’t want to be in the place they are. They may have sensory issues– sensory overload and just want to get away from that place. That leads to wandering,” explained Russ Kenn, Executive Director of the New England chapter of ‘Autism Speaks.’

While traffic can be dangerous, its bodies of water including lakes and ponds that poses the biggest threat. Drowning accounts for more than 90 percent of deaths in children with autism.

“When they wander, they typically have a diminished sense of fear and that brings them into danger, makes the case critical and it really requires a very elevated response by law enforcement,” said Bob Hoever, Director of Special Projects for NCMEC.

Hoever hopes the first responders will take what they learned and use it to help keep the conversation going.

“For them to take this information, go back to their agencies, their neighboring agencies, their communities, bring that information out to everybody,” he said.

For more information please visit https://www.autismspeaks.org/ and www.missingkids.com