DR RADICA MAHASE
In July this year, five-year-old Jenysa Alleyne wandered away from her home.
Jenysa was diagnosed with autism at three and is non-verbal, and thus unable to call for help.
She was found by the Hunters Search and Rescue team 12 hours after she had been swept away in the Carapal river.
While statistics are lacking for Trinidad and Tobago, the National Autism Association in the US noted that approximately 48 per cent of children with autism elope (wander/run away) from a safe environment. Of this number, more than one third are unable to communicate their name, address, or phone number.
Sadly, between 2009-2011, “accidental drowning accounted for 91 per cent total US deaths reported in children with an ASD, ages 14 and younger subsequent to wandering/elopement.”
Safety is an area of major concern for both children and adults who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Many simply do not understand danger and cannot recognise risky situations.
Children especially are attracted to water, but do not understand the danger of going into open bodies of water. In cases where they are non-verbal, they might not be able to communicate with people who do not know them.
Also, many people on the spectrum are unable to read people's behaviour and understand other people’s intentions. Thus they are more susceptible to abuse.
What can be done to ensure the safety of children and adults on the autism spectrum?
Just thinking about safeguarding a child or an adult with autism can seem overwhelming.
One idea is to strategise and plan according to the space. Let us start with the home – the idea is to "autism-proof" your home.
This means getting rid of clutter and putting away things that they can use to harm themselves such as sharp objects. Cover electrical outlets and make sure doors to go outside can be locked properly.
I have come across many cases of children who have had meltdowns and broken televisions, computers and tablets, so make sure these are secured – mount televisions on a height, put tablets in hard cases.
Many times, teenage boys and young male adults become aggressive when having meltdowns and they might push, pull and throw items, so it is always a good idea to secure furniture and remove glass and other fragile items which can harm them, if tampered with.
[caption id="attachment_1041495" align="alignnone" width="768"] Many autistic people are not aware of dangers and risks. - courtesy Alex Singh[/caption]
The second space is the school. Schools should be properly fenced. Last year, one parent said, her five-year-old son ran out of his school into the road on two occasions.
The school was fenced, but the gate could be opened easily, and after the first incident the administration promised to keep it always locked, but this was not the case.
When searching for a school for your child, make sure that it is properly blocked off and there is a proper security system in place: maybe a security guard on duty during school hours.
Have a conversation with the
