National Autism
Association Policy Statement on Personal Safety
Products
The National Autism Association (NAA) is a
parent-run advocacy organization whose mission is to
respond to the most urgent needs of the autism
community.
Because these urgent needs are often related to
safety, NAA has placed great focus on providing
information and resources to caregivers and care
providers of individuals most at risk for bodily
injury and death in association with wandering
incidents.
NAA has been approached multiple times about our
position on personal locator devices, and other
safety items designed to either prevent, or respond
to, wandering emergencies. NAA does not promote any
one safety product over another for the purpose of
monetary gain. Our role is to provide the most
relevant information and tools to those in need
based on the most reliable and relevant information
we have.
REGARDING PERSONAL LOCATOR DEVICE VENDORS:
Although our organization prefers programs that are
implemented by professionally trained emergency
response personnel such as Project LifeSaver and
LoJack SafetyNet, and we have provided financial
assistance to parents and agencies so they may
receive these services, these programs are not yet
available throughout the U.S., and families are in
need of other options. It is for this reason we also
provide information on certain GPS-based products
that offer geofencing capabilities, and at times
have provided financial assistance to parents in
critical need of this service.
Because NAA has no control over the quality,
reliability, performance, training or technical
support provided through manufacturers or
distributors, personal locator information provided
through our online and printed materials should
never be interpreted as medical advice or an
organizational endorsement.
REGARDING SALES COMMISSION:
It
is NAA’s policy to decline all offers of monies and
commissions associated with the sale of products
from safety-device manufacturers. NAA has no
partnerships with any one vendor.
REGARDING BEST PRACTICES:
NAA feels strongly that a multi-layered approach to
prevent, and respond to, wandering emergencies is
necessary to achieve optimal safety for your child.
This includes making every attempt to educate your
child on self-help skills including swimming, making
every attempt to educate them about safety and
potential dangers by using social stories, language,
prompts, or any communication mechanism best suited
for their individual needs. It’s important that
caregivers work to understand what is causing, or
contributing to, the wandering or bolting behaviors
so that any triggers may be addressed or eliminated.
The most important thing is that the at-risk child
or adult is learning to keep themselves safe, while
proper safeguards and adult supervision are also in
place to help ensure their safety.
No
matter what prevention strategies are put into
place, parents should never allow themselves to feel
a false sense of security Although certain vendors
may sell units based on words like “relaxation” and
“peace of mind,” please know that these benefits are
secondary to the overall goal of safety.
REGARDING TYPES OF LOCATOR DEVICES:
There is a wide range of personal locating devices
available. However, there is not one solution that
is appropriate for everyone. Some children will
wear a wristband, some will not. Some need a
waterproof device, some do not. Some areas do not
have reliable cellular service, which is vital for
many of these units. For some children, who are at
risk only in certain situations, it may be okay for
them to be frequently unprotected while their unit
is sitting on a charger, others are at risk around
the clock. There are simply too many variables in
products, and a wide scope of individual needs for
our children for us to make specific
recommendations.
Families should thoroughly research the features of
personal locating devices before deciding on which
is best for their child. We suggest the following
considerations:
-
Battery Life - does the unit have
to be charged? If so, how often? Is your loved
one unprotected during the charging process?
-
Water Resistance - can the unit
be worn when bathing, showering, swimming?
-
Efficacy in water – will the unit
transmit a signal under water?
-
Is the unit removable by the
wearer?
-
Is geofencing/perimeter
notification available?
-
Cellular service in your area -
will the unit work in the area of your home,
school, etc?
-
Does the system involve trained
emergency response personnel?
-
Is the manufacturer accessible in
case you have critical questions or challenges?
Are they interested in your child’s specific
needs? Do they support a multi-layered approach
to safety?
-
What are the costs involved, are
there monthly fees?
Lastly, if parents choose to use a personal locating
device, they should be sure to field test the
equipment in different locations, terrain and
various types of weather as if it were a real-life
situation.
