We have all been there.You’re stressed, you’re rushed, you’re tired.You make a quick stop at your local supermarket for some groceries for dinner.The store is packed.It’s noisy and frantic.Your autistic child is struggling.He’s beginning to show signs of sensory overload.You do your best to support
Tommy was diagnosed with autism at the age of three. He was verbal and considered "high-functioning," but he was sensory-seeking and a RUNNER. At every opportunity, and with little warning, he would dart from his parents and explore. Elopement quickly shot to the top of Tommy's parents' list of fe
We take a lot for granted. As social creatures, we rely on hundreds of unwritten rules and expectations during our daily interactions with other people. Understandably, most of these unwritten rules become subconscious and burned into our lives as ASSUMPTIONS about how each social encounter will/sho
(and why you have a vested interest in learning them)You WILL meet people with autism during your next shift. Are you prepared? Is your police academy training adequate to navigate these challenging situations? Are you sure?According to the CDC, there are 5.4 million ADULTS (2.2% of the populatio
Far too often, the first introductions between autistic individuals and first responders come during a crisis. It doesn't have to be this way. Autistic individuals are seven times more likely to have a police encounter than their neurotypical peers. According to the Children's Hospital of Pennsylv
I have lost my son five times. I have lost him out my front door, back door, in a shopping mall, in the desert of Palm Springs, and in a water park 3,000 miles from my home. Each of these events has two things in common: 1) It buckled me to the point of complete panic and shutdown. 2) He didn't "
It is unthinkable. It is every parent’s worst fear. For a special needs parent or caregiver, the mere thought of it can be crippling. You let your guard down for a moment. You turn your attention away from your loved one for an instant.He is gone.As a police officer, I have seen that desperate look
