Providing Safe Paths for Teens with Autism

This session will focus on how to ensure that teens with autism can obtain the skills they will need for safe community living. Strategies for community, home, school safety and knowing what transpires on internet sites like Myspace, Facebook and how to avoid become an internet victim or being perceived as a predator are shared. Attendees will be provided with multiple resources for assistance in areas such as bullying, victimization and abuse, and knowing how to not break the law. Recently there has been the realization that we as parents, care providers, and members of support teams have been at a loss on how to best educate teens with autism on how to be safe and advocate for a healthy and community based lifestyle.  Statistics show that most adults with autism live less independent lives and do not have a safe access to employment, residential options, and social opportunities like others.  One of the main focuses on looking at this has been to find out why that is occurring.  In most cases, it may be due to lack of the ability to judge what can be safe options and learning environments to promote both independence and involvement in all of those areas while having the skill set to maintain a safe existence.

This session will address what is known in this area regarding concerns and how victimization and abuse can be prevented by just having a healthy understanding of sexuality and access to appropriate reporting options.  Additionally having skills to communicate situations that may be problematic or where assistance is needed is essential and needs to be available through integrated educational opportunities.  Addressing existing community resources and providing initial assistance programs through natural circles of support can also be a road to success for individuals on the autism spectrum. Along with victimization and abuse, this session will address bullying and how to address it with appropriate response instead of retaliation..

There will also be a discussion on appropriate use of internet sites such as Myspace and Facebook.  Today there are many cases of reported victimization of teens being lured from such sites, participating in illegal activity, and utilizing the sites in ways where others may think the activity is of a harassment or stalking nature.  Many teens with autism are finding themselves being involved in relationships that are not base on factual individuals thereby causing both confusion and frustration.   The following areas will be covered in this section:

Underlying Dangers of Internet Use:

I.                    Current Trends Among Teens using the Internet

II.                 What is safe personal information to use

III.               When actions can be perceived as illegal

IV.              Knowing how to report abusive situations

V.                 Identifying predators

VI.              Preventing disclosure that could be harmful

VII.            Developing healthy relationships

VIII.         What laws govern internet use

Another factor in personal safety is learning what actions could be perceived as violating the law in both personal and financial situations.  Many times individuals with autism may not understand what may be comfortable for others when engaged in both a social or romantic relationship.  Knowing what could be misunderstood, within budding physical relationships, could also lead to actions that may result in a violation of the law if affections are not warranted.  Additionally within financial matters, many times individuals with ASD may not understand the nuances of finacial commitments via credit lines or loaning funds to other individuals.  This would hold true as well in passing on information to others when there is not the understanding when doing so the person could be considered part of the criminal process.

Many situations that are addressed may be lessons and practices that are taken for granted on a daily basis.  But through open discussion these important elements of life will not go overlooked.  Strategies for identifying those best suited and utilizing supporters who are already in place within natural circles have also worked best in providing adequate educations in these areas.  Providing community education to understand deficits is also important to allow for these areas to be understood and thus be subjects that can be addressed beyond immediate family and friends.