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5 Tips for Families to Prepare for Emergency Situations
Ways to start planning for an emergency situation with a loved one who has autism
Overview
This resource, adapted from information from the Autism Society, provides helpful tips for families on how to plan and prepare for emergency situations with a loved one who has autism.
- Make sure you have a form with up-to-date personal identification information and a photo completed for your child. Keep copies at home, in your car, and with you whenever possible.
- Practice providing personal information with your child (things like name, address and phone number).
- Stress water safety- it can mean the difference between life and death. Enroll your child in swimming lessons if he/she does not know how to swim.
- Make an effort to get to know your neighbors and community members (including police officers and other emergency personnel) and introduce them to your child. Be a resource to help them understand autism.
- Involve other family members, friends, and neighbors in your emergency planning. Establish a phone tree and action plan that can be engaged if the worst happens.
This resource created by Autism Society