Parents Make Case For Autism Street Signs

Concerned about their children who have a tendency to bolt, some parents want 'child with autism' signs placed near their homes, but they say federal and state laws are getting in the way. Read More;

Drone Technology To Track Wanderers With Autism

A pilot program will use state funding to purchase a drone that police can use to help locate people with autism and others at risk of wandering if they go missing. Read More;

Federal Budget Boosts Special Ed Funding, Addresses Autism Wandering

A $1.3 trillion government spending package will aid those with disabilities who wander while increasing special ed funding and tackling restraint and seclusion in schools, among other issues. Read More >

Autism Wandering Bill Advances In Senate

Federal legislation aimed at providing tracking devices and resources to those with autism and other developmental disabilities who are at risk of wandering is moving forward. Read More;

Congress May Revisit Autism Tracking Devices

Less than a year after fizzling, federal legislation designed to provide tracking devices and resources to those with developmental disabilities at risk of wandering is back on the table. Read More >

Schools Worried About Tracking Devices

Privacy concerns are prompting some schools to consider prohibiting GPS tracking devices that are designed to help protect children with disabilities who are at risk of wandering. Read More;

Wandering May Be Treatable, Study Finds

Many kids with disabilities have a tendency to wander away from safe places — with potentially tragic consequences — but a new study suggests that it's possible to mitigate such behavior. Read More ;

Mom Designs Drone To Track Kids Who Wander

Concerned about keeping track of her young daughter with autism, one mom created a video camera-equipped drone designed to give parents some extra help keeping an eye on their children. Read More >

A new “Gizmo” for people who may wander, and it’s available from Verizon!

Are you looking for a GPS device that will assist someone who has Alzheimer’s, autism, or a tramatic brain injury that will work also as a phone? The GizmoPal 2 watch from Verizon might be a possible solution.
I met a woman at the State Capitol’s Disabilities Day who had purchased the GizmoPal 2 watch for her son who has a disability and her granddaughter. She could not say enough about this product which gives her peace of mind locating and being able to talk with her son and granddaughter. This device is available from Verizon at $79 and a monthly charge of $5 if you have Verizon contract.
This product looks like a watch for kids; it comes in pink or teal but you can purchase other colored bands for extra fee. It is marketed to parents who don’t want their child to have a cell phone but want to be able to get in touch with the child. A parent/guardian can program up to 4 numbers the wearer can call and only those 4 numbers can call the one wearing the GizmoPal 2. It seems to be easy for the parent/guardian to set up the app on their phone and program in the numbers. The app is compatible with smartphones using Android™ 4.0 or higher and iOS 7 or higher.

CUTE VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fWeN333Zd0

Wandering Poses Challenges For New Medicaid Waiver Rules

Federal officials are chiming in on how to balance independence and safety for people with disabilities who have a tendency to wander. Read More ;

Autism Wandering Bill Gains Momentum In Congress

Federal legislation addressing the needs of kids with autism and other developmental disabilities who wander is one step closer to becoming law.  https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2016/04/15/autism-wandering-momentum/22185/

Study: Wandering A 'Pervasive Problem' For Kids With Disabilities

More than a quarter of children with developmental disabilities wander away from safe environments each year, a new study suggests, and those with autism appear to be at greatest risk. https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2016/02/11/study-wandering-pervasive/21900/

GPS SmartSole Gives Peace of Mind to Parents of Wanderers

We have covered a number of articles about individuals with special needs that have a tendency to wander/elope and the numerous tracking devices on the market that are available prevent disaster from striking. These devices have generally been worn as a watch or attached to clothing. Recently a new & innovative way to track individuals with special needs has been revealed.  GPS SmartSole is an invisible wearable technology device intended for non-invasive tracking of individuals with cognitive disorders (such as Alzheimer’s, autism, traumatic brain injuries) in its second generation.
http://www.friendshipcircle.org/blog/2016/01/19/gps-smartsole-gives-peace-of-mind-to-parents-of-wanderers/?utm_source=Friendship+Circle+Blog&utm_campaign=e68dbc5b7f-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_3ec270b4ae-e68dbc5b7f-199142745

A Special Needs Guide to Wandering & Elopement

For most people, the word “elopement” conjures up the image of lovers running away to get married. For the rest of us, it means something terrifying: a cherished family member with limited communication skills wandering or running away in unsafe circumstances.  http://www.friendshipcircle.org/blog/2015/12/28/a-special-needs-guide-to-wandering-and-elopement/?utm_source=Friendship+Circle+Blog&utm_campaign=87837a36b8-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_3ec270b4ae-87837a36b8-199142745

Big Red Safety Toolkit - Wandering Prevention Tools

The National Autism Association’s Big Red Safety Teacher Toolkit® is a free-of-charge safety toolkit for educators in need of wandering-prevention tools.  To submit an application - 
http://nationalautismassociation.org/big-red-safety-box/naas-big-red-safety-teacher-toolkit-now-available/

To Prevent Wandering, Schools Move Forward With Alarms

The nation's largest school district says it will install door alarms at nearly every one of its schools in an effort to help protect students with disabilities who are at risk of wandering.  http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2015/06/05/to-wandering-alarms/20360/

7 Steps You can Take to Prevent Wandering at Your Child’s School

Autism Speaks has put together a list of steps you can take to prevent wandering incidents and keep your child safe at school.   http://www.autismspeaks.org/news/news-item/7-steps-you-can-take-prevent-wandering-your-childs-school?utm_source=social-media&utm_medium=text-link&utm_campaign=espeaks

 

New Product to keep your Child Safe through GPS & Voice Monitoring

from Friendship Circle Blog   By Tzvi on Sep 15, 2014

 
A company called AngelSense has developed an innovative solution to keeping children with special needs safe through GPS and Voice Listening Technology.
http://www.friendshipcircle.org/blog/2014/09/15/a-new-product-to-keep-your-child-safe-through-gps-and-voice-monitoring/?utm_source=Friendship+Circle+Blog&utm_campaign=1795a69614-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_3ec270b4ae-1795a69614-199142745

Feds Clarify How To Apply For Autism Tracking Devices

A week after announcing that the federal government will pay for tracking devices for kids with autism, officials are offering more details about how families can access the technology.  http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2014/02/06/feds-clarify-tracking-devices/19085/

Senator Calls On Feds To Address Autism Wandering

The federal government would provide free electronic tracking devices for children with autism and other developmental disabilities who are prone to wandering under a proposed new law.   http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2014/01/28/senator-address-wandering/19052/