Comments on: Girl Who Jumped From Car Autistic

By: elizabeth channel

elizabeth channel — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:21:41 +0000

If anyone has any information about this device to keep car seats strapped, please let me know!

Thanks!

By: Sky Girl

Sky Girl — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:35:13 +0000

I once helped a family find a device that would keep their son with a pervasive development disorder in his seatbelt. I can’t remember where we finally found it, but we did it by searching on Google. The device was not that expensive (I think $5 - $15) and fit over the regular latch in a way the child could not unfasten it. Of course this depends on the age of the child and his or her level of mechanical ability. Some kids are just at figuring gizmos out!

I wish there was a greater level of empathy for children with pervasive developmental disorders and their families. People can be so harsh! I have such respect for these families who cope with things others don’t even think about (i.e. seatbelts) on a daily basis.

By: Donna

Donna — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:52:18 +0000

My thoughts and prayers are with this woman and her family as well. I know all too well what people think about situations such as these. Unless you live it or work with those who deal with it everyday, one can not even begin to imagine what it’s like. While my daughter has not been diagnosed with autism, she has various learning disabilities which over the years have resulted in her doing things similar to this one. She jumped out at a stop light in Springfield with her grandmother in the seat beside her. Luckily her grandmother was able to grab one of her legs and pull her back in. I can just imagine what those around us thought. The first nine years of our journey was painful and heart breaking at times. If it had not been for the hard work and compassion of educators and a fabulous neurologist I hate to think about where we would be today. I hope everyone will see this situation for what it is and show support for parents of children with disabilities.

By: Jack

Jack — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:22:04 +0000

I should not have clicked so soon. Here is the link to Webster County’s Project Lifesaver. If memory serves and nothing has changed, Webster County is the one who provides training to any law enforcement agency that wishes to participate. So they know their stuff. Contact them with questions and how to get the ball rolling, even if you do not live in Webster County.

http://www.webstersheriff.com/prlife.php

By: Jack

Jack — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:19:54 +0000

There is a significant number of children with Autism (as Jason well knows) that are “runners”, children who take off. Project Lifesaver is a program that was started to keep those who wander away safe. It is a national program and several counties in Missouri participate, including Greene.

The person (child or adult) is fitted with a wrist or ankle bracelet. If/when the person escapes or wanders off, or runs away, then the family contacts the sheriff’s department. They respond using electronic tracking (think Wild Kingdom) from the ground and sky.

It has saved many lives nationally as people are found in minutes or hours, rather than days or weeks.

In my last job, I was one of several who helped bring this to Webster County. We had many parents of children with Down Syndrome, Autism etc. who signed up immediately. I believe that Webster County is the go-to Sheriff’s Department in MO. Families of elderly persons also use this as that population can also be prone to wandering away.

Thanks for bringing attention to this very serious issue, Jason.

Project Lifesaver
http://www.projectlifesaver.org/site/