Educating the Emergency Department

Advocating for Yourself or Your Family Member with Autism

• • If possible, provide your local hospital with information about your autism before an emergency arises.
  • Provide information on:
    • The best way to communicate,
    • Sensory issues,
    • How well you tolerate long waits,
    • If you need a quiet environment,
    • Ways to help you remain calm,
    • Any fears or anxieties, and
    • If you want someone (a family member or caregiver) to remain with you.

Share Information in Advance of Going to the Emergency Department

• • Ask your primary care or specialist doctors to share your electronic records.
  • Complete the questionnaire (provided below) and give it to the hospital in advance of a potential visit to the emergency department.
  • These ways present opportunities to empower individuals with autism, their loved ones, and/or caregivers to:
    • Optimize care in the emergency department.
    • Educate health care providers on the nuances of their condition.
    • Set expectations for the type of treatment to be provided.