It's hard enough to manage an emergency situation if you're an adult with no special needs. When you're a child - or an adult - with autism, the experience can be terrifying. That's why John Sokol, Ph.D., has created websites and information to help first responders understand autism, and to help parents communicate with firefighters and police. John has written a piece for this site specifically for parents who care for an individual with autism.
Advice to Autism Parents from an Emergency 911 Responder includes suggestions, links and information you need now - long before an emergency occurs.
If you've dealt with special needs individuals during an emergency, you may have additional resources or suggestions. Please feel free to share!
When we were an active-duty military family -moving constantly! I learned to first off contact the local police and fire departments so they would know my household has three extra-ordinary children, and to use that initial contact to determine the respective Agcency’s level of awareness. If the awwareness-level was abysmal, I worked on that – local Parent-to-Parent groups were very helpful.
Second, with an eloper-in-residence, I learned to take a picture (polaroid in the old days!) every week, and to make a mental note of what my son was wearing every day (not that it mattered – he usually shed his clothes before taking off.)
vmgillen, great additional advice! I got to smile at the last line, but soooo true!