Autism: Don’t Stand So Close to Me

Picture this: you respond to a call for a 26 y/o male “not acting right” (that’s about the extent of information WE get from dispatch, anyway ). You arrive on scene and are immediately approached by a 5’9” 230-lb male who won’t make eye contact or respond to his name. He proceeds to get too […]

image courtesy of homeschoolingalmanac.com

Autism and Bullying

In late 2009 I packed my house, my kids and my dog and moved us to Knoxville, TN on a whim. It took much longer to drive a 27′ truck (that was towing my ’96 Chevy Blazer) filled with 5 years worth of crap than we anticipated and arrived in the middle of the night. […]

Autism Anxiety: It’s Not What You Think

As an emergency responder, I’m sure you’ve had “that call” a bunch of times… it comes in as heart attack or chest pain, and you drive lights and sirens to the call location only to find out your patient is simply having an anxiety attack. Sure, you do your job and tell them to take […]

Lessons I Learned Encountering a Lost Autistic Child at the Air Show

A Guest Post By Austin Harris, Emergency Medical First Responder, Autism Specialist, CERT Instructor Air shows can be fun for kids of all ages… but add autism to the mix and you may have a crisis in the waiting. I worked as a medical first responder at an air show earlier this year that and learned […]

Autism Safety Tips for Playing Pokémon GO

Sometimes, autistic people can be a bit rigid in their behaviors and averse to new experiences. My daughter, especially, who has a high level of social anxiety, has a really hard time with any type of change or new experience. My son is more open to new opportunities, but due to being more susceptible to sensory […]

Autism Tips for Emergency Responders: No Eye Contact

I read an awesome article on TheMighty.com that asked 16 different people on the autism spectrum to describe why making eye contact can be difficult for them. Any insights like this help me be a better parent to my autistic teens and a better educator for emergency responders. Lack of eye contact may be considered rude […]

Autism Tips for Emergency Responders: Autism vs. Asperger Syndrome

I often get asked, “What’s the difference between autism and Asperger’s? Are they both considered autism? Are they the same thing? And what the heck is PDD-NOS?” Just when I had a handle on everything, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual version 5 (DSM-5) went and changed the diagnostic criteria! Here is what I know, in […]

Autism Tips for Emergency Responders: It’s Not Altered Mental Status

I’m going to be boldly honest right now about how things are for us sometimes, because I believe it can help responders understand more about interacting with autistic individuals. This is my son… …Flapping his hands and banging his head because emergency vehicles passed by with lights and sirens, which also set off the neighborhood dogs […]

Autism Tips for Emergency Responders: Adult Meltdowns

Often when I begin one of my autism training classes for public safety professionals I have to quickly debunk the myth that autism is a “kid” thing. Especially when we talk about meltdowns. Yes, I talk about the differences between a meltdown and a tantrum – which is much needed information – but meltdowns are […]

Autism, Depression and Suicide

Today I read a very moving post on EverydayAspergers.com, a blog that helps raise awareness about Asperger’s and females. The entire article really opened my eyes to my 17 year old daughter’s mental and emotional struggles as she tries to make her way in this world, yet feels the need to apologize every day for […]

Autism and Sleep Deprivation

As an autism parent, I’m no stranger to sleep deprivation. When my son was a toddler it used to take HOURS to get him to sleep. If (not when) I was successful, he would wake up around 1 am, just as I was going to bed. Nothing would get him back to sleep – not letting […]

Autism Tips for Emergency Responders: Inappropriate Words

Ah, the art of communication. It comes so easily to most of us. But for someone with autism, even if they are completely verbal, it is a almost always a challenge. Yesterday my son was having a really hard time regulating his emotions, so I suggested we take a leisurely walk together without the dogs. (It turns […]

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Autism Training for Emergency Responders • Emergency Preparedness