Autism Kit for First Responders

In stressful situations, such as emergencies, people with autism may experience heightened challenges with communication and sensory perception. The sensory kit below includes items that may be helpful to officers, such as tips on assisting and interacting with a person with autism, as well as communication boards and visuals to make communication more accessible, and sensory items that may be comforting or regulating to the person with autism.

Autism Kit for First Responders

Autism visual supports for COVID-19 vaccination

Visual supports can often benefit people with autism by offering predictability. They can contribute to understanding and positive behavior support in situations where verbal explanations or directions may be insufficient. The graphics below can be freely shared, printed, laminated, and used to support people with autism and related conditions in vaccination against COVID-19 (the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus).

To print:

• Click on the desired image to obtain the full-size image
• Right click on the full-size image to download it
• Print the image, using landscape orientation
• Alternatively, you can print directly from your browser, but this may require omitting headers/footers and adjusting the scale

Presume Competence: A guide to successful, evidence-based principles for supporting and engaging individuals with autism

This comprehensive, research-based guide provides fundamental information to help parents, teachers, and others who support individuals with autism. It provides useful strategies for communication, instruction, positive behavior supports, inclusion, relationship-building, and more, emphasizing the competence, dignity, strengths, and equality of those with autism. Presume Competence also includes practical tips for toilet training, developing a stable bedtime routine, and engaging children and adults with autism in play and learning opportunities. The guide is authored by Dr. John P. Hussman, and Institute staff refer to it as “1.0”; it captures the central practices and the moral foundation from which the Institute operates.

Template: Letter to your child’s teacher         

In research studies, teachers have reported that they wish they had more specific and concise information about each child with special needs in their classrooms, as IEPs can be lengthy and confusing.  To help your child’s teacher support him, consider adapting this template letter to meet your needs at the start of the school year—or anytime.  It provides language and ideas for what to say as an “introduction to your child” to help your child have the best experience possible in an inclusive classroom.  You might consider sending the same letter to the school’s guidance counselor, nurse, librarian, or anyone else who might interact with her.

“Wheel of Apps”: Communication Supports

This chart sorts dozens of available apps into categories based on their functions.  Each app name is clickable and takes you to the iTunes app store for more information.  A Scottish organization created this resource, so be aware that prices are in pounds, not dollars!

Coming Soon: A “shortlist” resource focused on the Hussman Institute’s favorite communication apps.