The following information and resources have been provided courtesy of The Lurie Center for Autism, a program of Massachusetts General Hospital and Mass General for Children.

The Lurie Center for Autism is committed to advancing treatments for and knowledge about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other developmental disorders, and translating these discoveries into exceptional clinical care. A program of Massachusetts General Hospital and Mass General for Children, The Lurie Center is a multidisciplinary treatment, research, training, and advocacy organization dedicated to supporting individuals and their families across the lifespan.

This resource is intended to provide information so that you can be better informed. It is not a substitute for medical advice and should not be used to treat any medical conditions.

This information is also available in Arabic, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. Click here to view these resources.

Safety Resources for Children with Autism

Below is a listing of helpful resources curated for our patients, their families, and other care providers.

Car and Public Safety Resources

• Adaptive equipment may be covered by your health insurance. Contact your insurance carrier to learn more.
• Adaptive car seats and seat belt guards:
  • https://www.especialneeds.com/seat-belt-buckle-guard.html
  • https://www.especialneeds.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?q=car+seats
• Adaptive strollers
  • https://www.especialneeds.com/shop/special-needs-strollers-wheelchairs.html
  • https://www.adaptivemall.com/allstrolpus.html
• Equipment might need custom fitting evaluations – consult Spaulding Center for Children to learn more.

Identification

• ID cards
  • https://alertmebands.com/
  • https://autismidcard.com/
• ID bracelets
  • https://www.roadid.com/products/stretch-for-kids
• Shoe tags
  • https://www.roadid.com/products/sprint-stainless-velcro-id
  • https://www.etsy.com/market/shoe_id_tag
• Seat belt tags
  • https://www.amazon.com/Awareness-Medications-Nonverbal-Strategies-MediPal/dp/B09HP9D2RV
  • https://www.amazon.com/Personalized-Awareness-Special-Autistic-Medical/dp/B09X1LCFQG

Word of mouth

• Assign a trusted adult the specific task of keeping an eye on your child in areas of high traffic/distraction.
• Talk to neighbors about your child’s special needs.
  • The more they know, the more likely they are to keep an eye out for your child and contact you in an emergency.
• Practice with your child – What should they do if they are found by law enforcement.
  • Teach your child what to do if they get lost including showing their ID bracelet or ID card to a trusted adult.
  • Inform your local police/fire departments about your child and any communication concerns you have.
  • Practice exposure to police officers and firefighters with your child.

Wandering/Elopement

• Big Red Safety Toolbox: Contains visual stop signs, alarms, and other useful safety materials.
  • https://nationalautismassociation.org/big-red-safety-box/
• Home security systems (i.e. Ring, Vivint, ADT)
  • https://www.vivint.com/company/gives-back (may offer discounts for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities)
  • https://ring.com/
• Door and Window Alarms (these can be found online at Amazon and in retail stores like Home Depot, Lowes, etc.)
  • https://www.homedepot.com/b/Electrical-Home-Security-Door-Window-Alarms/N-5yc1vZc202
  • https://www.lowes.com/pl/Door-window-sensors-Home-alarms-sensors-Home-security-Smarthome-security-wi-fi/4294546223

Tracking

• Angelsense: Provides GPS and voice monitoring through a wearable device.
  • https://www.angelsense.com/
• Care Trak: Electronically tracks the individual wearing the transmitter device. Sheriffs, Police, Fire Departments, SAR Teams, etc. use Care Trak to quickly locate at risk individuals.
  • https://caretrak.com/
• SafetyNet Tracking Systems
  • https://safetynettracking.com/
• Devices like Apple Airtags and TILE trackers can also be helpful.

The Lurie Center does not endorse any single resource listed and encourages you to explore the information contained in this guide.