The Autism Society Event and Education Recordings Archive

During the past ten years, the most significant change in the characteristics of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the percentage of individuals with ASD who have average or above average intellectual ability - 46% versus 32% in 2002 (Centers for Disease Control, 2010). In all likelihood, as this group of individuals with ASD become teens and adults they will frequently be out in our communities without being accompanied by a parent or family member. In some instances, a concerned citizen may report the sometimes intrusive and/or odd behavior of an individual with ASD to police. Or, perhaps the tendency of an individual with ASD to sometimes avoid eye contact will be misinterpreted by a law enforcement officer as suspicious behavior (Chovanec, 2013). Consequently, there are several initiatives focused on teaching law enforcement officers about ASD (Autism and Law Enforcement Education Coalition {ALEC), The Law Enforcement Awareness Network [L.E.A.N. On Us], Autism Risk and Safety Management). Over the past 20 years, Dennis Debbaudt has worked tirelessly to address these issues with law enforcement professionals as well as families of individuals with ASD. The ongoing concern with these issues is evident by the recently published Life Journey Through Autism: A Guide to Safety (Organization for Autism Research, 2014).

This presentation will share free tools (the Wallet Card Video and accompanying materials) that self-advocacy groups, individual parents and parent groups, autism organizations, professionals, can use to help teach successful interaction skills. In addition, information about Miranda rights, safety rules to follow to reduce the likelihood of the situation escalating, as well as safe ways to use a wallet card to disclose a diagnosis of ASD will be addressed. The Wallet Card project is a collaboration between Disability Independence Group (a nonprofit legal advocacy center), the Coral Gables Police Department, and the University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities. Therefore, a civil rights attorney has provided the information about legal implications of what one says or does, our partner in the police department has provided input on the safety rules for people with ASD to follow, and an ASD professional organization has provided input in regards to how to help people with ASD understand the material.