Safety is a basic need of all individuals. Unfortunately, individuals with autism often have characteristics that can lead to serious safety concerns. For example, increased impulsivity and limited language skills can lead to individuals with autism wandering from their caregiver to access a preferred item. A lack of fear and limited awareness of their surroundings may result in traffic accidents. Fortunately, there are many resources for parents to help teach their child safety awareness and to make changes to their home and community to keep them safe at all times. ACES has selected just a few resources that our parents and staff have found helpful.

Autism Speaks National Safety Resource Center

Autism Speaks has compiled a comprehensive directory of safety products, websites and instructional toolkits.

The following are three resources included in the Autism Speaks National Safety Resource Center that parents may want to consider first:

• Wandering Prevention

AWAARE is the Autism Wandering Awareness Alerts Response Education website. AWAARE offers the Big Red Safety Box which provides parents with essential safety and prevention tools.

For more information, visit www.awaare.org.

• Stranger Safety Training Video

The Safe Side - Stranger Safety: Hot Tips to Help Keep Cool Kids Safer with People They Don't Know and Kinda Know (2005).

Angela Shelton (Actor), John Walsh (Actor), Douglas Aarniokoski (Director) | Rated: G | Format: DVD