Lions, Tigers, and Bears Oh My: Autism and Cyber Safety

Homeland Security Investigations iGuardian project helps kids and parents to be smart about online safety and stay safe from online sexual predators. This adaption of the iGuardian program, created by a father of a child with autism, addresses how children on the spectrum have a higher susceptibility to online exploitation. Homeland Security Investigations’ Project iGuardian is focused on keeping children and teens safe from online predators through education and awareness.  The project is an outreach effort to share information about the dangers of online environments, how to stay safe online, and how to report abuse and suspicious activity. This presentation, adapted by the parent of a child with autism, will address issues of concern to all parents and highlight the increased vulnerability of children on the autism spectrum. Specific intervention strategies for parents and those working with children on the spectrum will be offered.

Throughout the presentation, means of protecting children online will be addressed no matter where they access the Internet. Technology changes all the time and kids are constantly finding the newest websites, apps and gadgets. It’s up to us to teach them the basic rules of Internet safety so that they can use all of these responsibly.

Specific content areas will include:

• Netiquette

• Looking at inappropriate content

• Pop-ups/passwords

• Not trusting people you meet online

• Cyberbullying

• Sexting

• Posting personal/inappropriate content

• Online predators

The information you learn in this presentation will help prepare parents and others for discussions concerning all of these areas with the children in their care. .

Learning Objective(s):

• Learn about Online privacy. Protecting a child's/ family's personal information online.

• Learn about posting/sending inappropriate content. This includes violence and hate speech, alcohol and drugs references, and pornography, which can lead to online solicitations and sexual requests. Including recognizing the signs, prevention technics and software availability.

• Learn about cyber bullying. Understanding the victim, the bystander, and the cyberbully. Including intervention strategies.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn about Online privacy. Protecting a child's/ family's personal information online.
• Learn about posting/sending inappropriate content. This includes violence and hate speech, alcohol and drugs references, and pornography. Which can lead to online solicitations and sexual requests. Including recognizing the signs, prevention technics and software availability.
• Learn about cyber bullying. Understanding the victim, the bystander, and the cyberbully. Including intervention strategies.

Track: Lifespan 2 - School Age

Content Area: Education

Presenter:

David Fallon
Special Agent
DHS Homeland Security Investigations Cyber Crimes Investigations Group

David Fallon is a Special Agent with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), assigned to the Newark, NJ field office. Agent Fallon has been part of the Cyber Crimes Investigations Group (CCIG) for seven years and whose main goals are to investigate child exploitation and child pornography offenses.

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