Reducing injury and death of missing individuals with Autism and other developmental disabilities through First Responder training.

To address the critical issues of wandering, elopement, and preventable water deaths in the Autism community, The Autism Society of Greater Akron (ASGA) is partnering with the Safety on the Spectrum and Accessible Aquatics programs with the Autism Society of America (ASA). The purpose is to improve interactions between first responders and the Autism community who are prone to wandering and elopement, and who have an increased propensity to suffer water submersion injuries and drowning deaths. Project activities include developing a "train-the-trainer" approach to provide both in-person and online training to first responders to identify and assist those wandering from safety and to train leaders and program partners to provide a standardized person-centered water safety program.