The Autism Project

STATE IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS FOR IMPROVING SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH ASD

THE AUTISM PROJECT (TAP) PRIMARY ACTIVITIES UNDER THIS AWARD WILL INCLUDE THE ADDITION OF SLIDES ON ELOPEMENT PREVENTION TO ALL TRAININGS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOPIC SPECIFIC VIDEOS TO TARGET BARRIERS WITHIN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. AS SUCH, TAP COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS WILL PROVIDE SUPPORT TO FAMILIES TO UNDERSTAND AUTISM AND TO CREATE FAMILY SAFETY PLANS, MEET AND GREET EVENTS WITH LOCAL FIRST RESPONDERS, AND MARKET THE LIBRARY OF WORK THAT TAP HAS CREATED. TAP TEACHES THE CORE CHARACTERISTICS OF AUTISM ACROSS THE LIFESPAN. ONCE UNDERSTOOD, TAP TEACHES HOW TO USE EVIDENCE-BASED INTERVENTIONS AND STRATEGIES DURING AN ENCOUNTER. TAP WILL CREATE A MINIMUM OF THREE VIDEOS TO ADDRESS THE FOLLOWING: 1. UNIQUE EXPERIENCE OF AUTISM AND THE BLACK COMMUNITY; 2. THE ROLE OF DISPATCH; AND 3. HOW TO CREATE AND PRACTICE A FAMILY SAFETY PLAN IN SPANISH. TAP ALSO HAS THE CAPABILITY TO FILM SHORT TOPICAL VIDEOS IN-HOUSE TO ADD TO PRESENTATIONS AND HOST ON THE INTERNET FOR INCREASED ACCESS. TAP WILL MARKET OUTREACH MATERIALS AND SERVICES ACROSS RI AND NATIONALLY AND ATTEND TWO NATIONAL CONFERENCES TO PROMOTE ITS WORK AND CONTRIBUTE TO LOCAL OUTREACH EVENTS, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND NEWSLETTERS. ALSO, TAP EXPECTS TO INCREASE KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO PREVENT ELOPEMENT IN RI AND NATIONALLY, AND WILL EDUCATE PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL ON CONSIDERATIONS DURING A RESCUE INCLUDING HOW TO APPROACH THE MISSING INDIVIDUAL AND THEIR FAMILY TO REDUCE STRESS AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS THAT SUPPORT THE FAMILY OF AN ELOPER.

ELOPEMENT PREVENTION RESCUE AND SAFETY TRAINING FOR AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

TAP IS REQUESTING $145,762.08 TO IMPLEMENT TRAINING PROGRAMS TO REDUCE WANDERING AND ELOPEMENT INCIDENTS AMONG INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM AND/OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. THROUGH THIS PROJECT THE AUTISM PROJECT (TAP) AIMS TO PREVENT WANDERING AND ELOPEMENT AMONG INDIVIDUALS DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER (ASD) AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (DD) LIVING IN RHODE ISLAND.    TAP WILL PROVIDE TRAINING TO FIRST RESPONDERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, EDUCATORS, AND THE FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH ASD OR DD, SO THEY ARE BETTER PREPARED TO MANAGE CRISES AND DANGEROUS SITUATIONS STEMMING FROM WANDERING AND ELOPEMENT WITHIN THESE UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS. TAP SERVES THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND, BUT MUCH OF THE WORK DONE THROUGH THIS PROJECT WILL FOCUS ON REACHING BLACK, INDIGENOUS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR (BIPOC) FAMILIES AND AUTISTIC PEOPLE LIVING IN RHODE ISLAND’S FOUR CORE CITIES: PAWTUCKET, PROVIDENCE, CENTRAL FALLS, AND WOONSOCKET.    TAP’S PRIMARY ACTIVITIES WILL BE TO DEVELOP (A) VIDEO TRAININGS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS, EDUCATORS, AND FAMILIES/CAREGIVERS, (B) IN-PERSON TRAINING FOR FIRST RESPONDERS AND FAMILIES/CAREGIVERS, (C) MATERIALS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS AND FAMILIES/CAREGIVERS, (D) AND BY INTRODUCING FAMILIES AND CHILDREN WITH ASD TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRST RESPONDERS. TAP WILL USE THE PRINCIPLES OF FAMILY- AND PERSON-CENTERED CARE THAT REGARDS BOTH PERSPECTIVES AS CENTRAL TO THE FRAMING OF PROBLEM-SOLVING AND INTERVENTION PLANNING. FAMILY-CENTERED PLANNING FACILITATES THE PROCESSES OF NAMING AND FRAMING PROBLEMS, SHARING, AND DISTRIBUTING EXPERTISE, AND ADDRESSING NEEDS IN A MANNER THAT IS BOTH EFFECTIVE AND SUPPORTIVE OF FAMILY LIFE.  THROUGH THIS PROJECT, IT IS TAP’S GOAL TO INCREASE AWARENESS FOR FAMILIES, PROFESSIONALS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH SPECIALIZED EDUCATION ON ASD AND DD AND THE ASSOCIATED DANGERS OF WANDERING AND ELOPEMENT, WITH OVERALL GOALS OF SAVING TIME, MONEY AND ULTIMATELY LIVES. WITH INCREASED INFORMATION AND TRAINING, FIRST RESPONDERS, FAMILY MEMBERS, AND CHILDCARE PROFESSIONALS WILL HAVE THE TOOLS NEEDED TO MORE EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE WITH INDIVIDUALS WITH ASD OR DD, HELPING TO PREVENT WANDERING AND ELOPEMENT AND HELPING TO BETTER RESPOND IN A CRISIS SITUATION.

STATE IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS FOR IMPROVING SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH ASD