First aid · Emergencies · De-escalation

Is your child constantly eloping and you want to further inform your community, most specially first-responders about autism, meltdowns, sensory sensitivity, and elopement? AMUSE Foundation is a neurodivergence organization that talks to our local first responders about this, invite us to have a talk with your community, establishments, and first responders!

When encountering and attempting to assist person or family during a meltdown these key points could help. 

For minors, ask family if possible what is needed from the first responder: otherwise for you to step in or should the first responder be a shadow. Ask how the minor in need is best communicated with and what behaviors to be aware of and motivators that will help keep minors attention.

First and foremost:  Keep yourself and others safety in mind

• Be patient, kind, direct, and clear
  • Say what you mean, mean what you say
    • Includes addressing your own boundaries
• Get on their level if you can- ie sit on floor with them , kneel
• Assume competence and provide supports
• "Try to understand where the anxiety comes from" without minimizing how the students feel 
• calmness is contagious have a peaceful calm energy and voice tone
• Processing information takes time give them some time to process your request
• Allow the person to be the expert of their own experience, use their words to reflect back
• Make your comments shorter and more concrete 
• Redirect with reminders of appropriate behavior, expectations, & boundaries
• Listen to person, teachers, staff, caregivers and parents, the know the person and can be an asset; most of the time, but use discretion. Sometimes the parent/caregiver is adverse to the behavior and must be separated for safety. Again- ask what they need. 

Terms Often Used in Autism Community

Stimming: 

Repetitive behavior such as spinning of objects, rocking back and forth clapping, hand flapping or other repetitive actions that alleviate the stressors of overstimulation.

Scripting; Echoing, Echolalia:

This is the repeating of sounds, words or phrases sometimes taken from other sources such as favorite books, tv shows, movies or something said by someone else. People who echo may not always be able to communicate effectively or express their own thoughts but they parrot back what they have heard. If asked a question they might repeat the question or not answer the question

Eloping: 

Someone wanders away or leaves an unsafe place. A desire driven by sensory overload, desire to escape, or desire to pursue special interest. Often paired with no safety awareness. 

Meltdown: External Expression

A meltdown is not the same as a temper tantrum. It is not bad or mischievous behavior. 

Crying, Yelling

Repetitive harmful behavior or speech

Physical acts

Increased swimming

Self harm

Increased sensory sensitivity

Elopement 

Shutdown: Internal Expression

Fatigue

Withdrawn/zoning out

Unresponsive/silence

Avoidance

Masking more than usual

No longer processing their surroundings

Cocooning