Hidden Dangers - Keeping Children and Adults with Developmental Disabilities Safe

About the Workshop

Children with special needs are seven times more likely to have contact with law enforcement than their typically developing peers.
49% of children with autism wander or elope.
Autistic children and adults are at greater risk of being exposed to internet pornography, online sexual predators, and becoming victims of online fraud.
70% of developmentally disabled females and 40% of developmentally disabled males are sexually abused by the time they are 18 years old.
Emergency room visits are twice as common for those with autism.

POAC’s Hidden Dangers Program educates parents, family members, and professionals working with children and adults with autism and other special needs and disabilities about issues relating to safety, emergency preparedness, and crisis intervention. It is presented in a format that addresses a variety of special needs and levels of functioning across the life span. Specifically, the program will cover:

Emergency and Disaster Preparedness
Fire Safety Issues
Sexuality and Personal Safety
Internet Safety
How to address wandering
Bullying
Behavioral interventions including social stories, activity schedules, visual cues, and more
School and Transportation Issues
Resources for ongoing support and assistance
Physical modifications to the home and classroom

The program will offer concrete suggestions and strategies that can be applied immediately to increase safety and decrease risk at home, in the classroom, and in the community. Each participant will also receive many important resources and tools.