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Nearly 50% of autistic youth wander --- check water FIRST
The Bridge: First Responders & Autism was launched March 2026
This FREE quarterly safety bulletin offers practical reminders, quick tips and field-ready tools sent directly to your in-box.
FREE ON-DEMAND LEARNING
Explore KATC's YouTube Channel -
be sure to check out the Safety Playlist and the NEW Micro-Lessons Playlist
@kyautismtraining
Yellow Dot Information of First Responders
Best Practices for Elopment for School Staff
Autism Sensory Bag Training
Yellow Dot Program
topics featured in The Bridge: First Responders & Autism - Quarterly Safety Bulletin
Kentucky's IAN ALERT
What is it?
An Ian Alert is used when a child is missing and sharing information with the public may help find them.
Who sends it?
Ian Alerts are sent by the Kentucky State Police, working with local police and emergency agencies.
What should I do if I get one?
Read the alert and follow the directions. If you know something that could help, call law enforcement right away.
Important safety reminder:
Be aware of nearby water, including rivers, lakes, ponds, streams, ditches, and pools.
Autistic youth are often drawn to water --- check water FIRST!
Resources for Wandering
Project LifeSaver -
Find a participating agency - enter your zip code to learn what agency/agencies participate in Project Lifesaver
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children - FREE materials to better understand and respond to wandering incidents
URGENT ALERT 2024 - Urging public to be aware of the high rate of wandering and the high risk of drowning
National Autism Association - Materials to Prevent, Educate & Respond to wandering incidents
Big Red Safety Box - FREE for caregivers
currently out of stock - check back frequently
FREE Visual Supports
First Responder Quick Guides
Free training
Free training
The Kentucky Autism Training Center is pleased to offer a FREE two-hour training for First Responders on autism.
Autism and the First Responder is approved for two CE/Contact Hours from the KY Board of Emergency Medical Services (KBEMS) and KY Fire Commission- State Fire Rescue Training.
Participants of the FREE TRAINING will:
Build understanding of autism and how it presents across individuals
Learn effective communication strategies for all ages
Explore de-escalation techniques tailored to autistic needs
Discover local, state, and national autism-related resources including the Yellow Dot Program
📋 Schedule a Training for Your Team
To request a training session, please complete our digital request form
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Heidi Cooley-Cook at heidi.cooleycook@louisville.edu.
We look forward to partnering with you to enhance safety, deepen understanding, and foster positive outcomes in every call.
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