1. The Basics of Autism
Spectrum Disorders
Training Series
RAAC Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Task Force

2. Adult Training Series
Modules
 Module One: Autism Defined, Autism Prevalence
and Primary Characteristics
 Module Two: Physical Characteristics of Autism
 Module Three: Cognition and Learning in Autism
 Module Four: Autism and Sensory Differences
 Module Five: Communication and Autism

3. Adult Training Series
Modules
 Module Six: Behavior Challenges and Autism
 Module Seven: Understanding Behavior in Persons with
Autism
 Module Eight: Functional Behavior Assessment
 Module Nine: Autism and Leisure Skills to Teach
 Module Ten: Special Issues of Adolescence and
Adulthood
 Module Eleven: Safety and Autism

4. Safety
Emergencies:
 Because people with ASD can look like everyone else,
police and other emergency responders may expect
answers to questions that the person is not able to
give (for example, giving their name).
 Some behaviors can be misunderstood (for example,
reaching to touch the officer’s badge).

5. Safety
Emergencies:
 Because people with ASD may have low muscle tone,
emergency responders should never restrain the
person by placing on his/her stomach. This type of
restraint has caused death.

6. Safety
Dangerous situations:
 The person may be drawn to materials such as matches
and other dangerous items.
 Wandering off may be a problem.
 The person may not know how to move around in traffic,
such as safely crossing the street.
 The person may not understand the danger of going off
with a stranger.

7. Big Idea
A person with ASD may not
recognize a dangerous situation.

8. Safety Strategies
 Get to know the neighbors.
 Get to know nearby public safety agencies, police,
fire department, and other emergency responders.
 Consider notifying them that a person with ASD
lives in the home including where they sleep and
other special needs.
 If staff is in the community with someone with ASD,
they should carry/wear identification.

9. Safety Strategies
Identification
The person with ASD should carry
identification at all times.
The person should practice showing their
identification.
The person should wear a medical alert
bracelet/Identification bracelet.
Identification information should say that the
person may not be able to speak or may be too
frightened to answer questions in an
emergency.

10. Safety and ASD:
Strategies at Home
 At home, door alarms may be helpful to make sure the
person doesn’t leave the house without your knowledge.
 If the person with ASD has dietary restrictions,
refrigerator locks and cabinet locks may be needed.
(Special permission is necessary for this.)
 Removable stove knobs may be helpful if the person
with ASD isn’t aware of the danger of burning
themselves.
 Cleaning supplies and other dangerous products may
need to be locked up.

11. Safety and ASD:
In the Community
 Autism decals for car windows are available to
make sure that in case of an emergency,
responders know that there is a passenger with
ASD in the vehicle.
(contact www.autismcincy.org).
 Many people with ASD are attracted to water.
Swimming lessons are helpful to make sure the
person is water safe.

12. Behavior and Safety
 When possible, be prepared for situations that
could lead to behavior difficulties.
 Know the early signs of a problem behavior.
 Have a plan for when problems occur.
 Get to know the people who work in the places you
go to frequently in the community so they can be
helpful in an emergency.

13. Big Idea
Get to know the warning signs of a
behavior problem so that little
problems do not become big ones.