Strategies and Tips for First Responders Interacting with Autism Spectrum Disorder Patients

[berkeman]

This is a helpful article about things to consider when dealing with folks who have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) issues:

https://www.firehouse.com/safety-he...for-individuals-with-autism-spectrum-disorder

I found a couple items especially interesting and helpful -- first that ASD individuals are generally attracted to water (like pools and lakes), so when looking for a missing ASD person, consider checking those locations first. And second, that they often use "stimming" to deal with stressful situations and triggers, and stimming can often be misinterpreted...

When stress is heightened, individuals with ASD tend to flap their arms, spin or rock to deescalate themselves. These movements of self-stimulation are called stimming. Stimming is a response technique to regulate emotions and decrease sensory overload. Stimming looks different for everyone but can be mistaken for spastic movements that are associated with other conditions or for being under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

 

[Lnewqban]

The main problem I see is the interaction of law enforcement, rescue, or even common persons like coworkers, with these ASD affected individuals, not knowing or understanding the peculiarity of their behavior.

That is more critical as the person’s brain caracteristics tend to be more toward the “normal” side of the spectrum.

That is very confusing situation for everybody involved in it, expecting “normal” actions and responses that are simply not available.