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Thursday, March 31, 2011

Tragedy and Autism Awareness.

Today in Australia many people will be wearing blue to raise awareness about people on the spectrum within the community. Of course there are lots of differing view points on the purpose and productivity of such events, but here in Australia it is particularly poignant timing. A beautiful little boy, aged 6 and with Autism wandered away from his home two days ago. Wearing only a nappy he crossed several busy roads, witnessed by many drivers, eventually coming to a railway track. While on the tracks he was struck and killed by a commuter train. Thus bringing to reality the fear his parents probably harboured for quite some time, that he would wander and come to harm. Autistic children are notorious escape artists, and known to wander or elope as it is sometimes called. I hope this terrible tragedy in tandem with the awareness raising campaign will serve to educate people about common ASD behaviours. Especially those that endanger children. And to prompt adults who see young kids roaming the streets alone to at the very least call the police to alert them if they can't find it in themselves to stop. Do I sound angry? You bet I'm fucking angry.

You see Harri is a runner/wanderer. I also live several metres from a railway line. Harri loves to watch the freight trains as they rattle past each day. He is only two so is constrained by fences and gates, but the day is coming when he will start to work out ways to free himself from the confines of our front garden. My little boy could one day be wandering towards a railway line before I have a chance to realise. The thought that people witnessing my sons progress towards railway tracks without intervening makes me sick to my stomach. As awful as the people who saw the child before he was killed must feel now, it is nothing next to the anguish and suffering of his parents. I can't find it in myself to forgive those witnesses because I am so painfully aware this could be my son one day.

Sorry to post such a downer today but I feel this issue has to be part of any awareness campaign. Yes our children are wonderful and often brilliant, but also have serious deficits, including the capacity to analyse risk. Parents of ASD kids tend to be hypervigilant, but we still need to go to the toilet, have a shower, cook meals and other activites than mean being distracted from full time observation. The public should not eschew responsibility for unaccompanied wandering children. But in this case they did, with deadly consequences.

13 comments:

  1. Oh that's so scary :( (((((YOU)))))

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  2. How awful. I'm sad and scared. You're right, that was a bit of a downer. That poor baby. Our children are always on "escape mode" for some reason. Oh that poor baby and his poor parents. I think I have to go watch my baby sleep for a while...

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  3. I hear ya.

    Boy 1 is older and a little wiser but still oblivious to some dangers most days.

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  4. I'm so pleased to find your blog...thank you for visiting mine :)

    I couldn't agree more with you on this one,...both of my autistic boys are runners and wanderers , it could have been either of them too....

    My heart breaks for the family and its too shocking for words....

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  5. The tragedy of the situation words cannot start to express and I can only start to imagine the pain it has caused for all those who were effected. In the hope of trying to help in some way to minimise the risk of others going through such tragedy in the future I would like to draw everyone’s attention to the existence of a product called a CareTracker GPS Locator. The device is small enough to be worn / carried by children and should they wander off a family member / carer or even police simply need to call the mobile number of the CareTracker and they will receive a reply sms in under 60 seconds containing a Google map link advising the exact location of the CareTracker. The exact same technology is about to be released onto the market embedded into the soles of walking shoes. GPS Smart Shoes will be initially for the elderly, aimed specifically at those Alzheimer’s suffers who have wandering characteristics. Plans are currently in place to have the GPS Smart Shoes also produced for children shoes in the near future. For more information about the CareTracker and or GPS Smart Shoes visit www.TrackingCentral.com.au

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  6. Wow trackingcentral. Thanks, it'll be great when they can do the shoes. Can you give me at ETA on them?
    I will both blog and share the word about your product, thank again for this info.

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    1. Hi Sharon, The shoes are currently only available in the USA. As TrackingCentral is a strategic partner with the US based company i have the only 2 pairs of GPS Shoes in Australia for local testing purposes. The current styles sold are only in adult shoe size from Adult 5-14 so they would be too large for children below late primary school age. Plans are in place for other products to be developed including children size shoes however they are still in development stages. Should you wish to discuss the matter with me please call 1300 255 990 and or visit www.TrackingCentral.com.au

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  7. So this morning I had to pick my 4 year old autisic son up from the police station because he wandered off in the night.
    So I went to bunnings to by extra locks and found this awesome little alarm that sounds when you open the door only $10, so now if he can find away to get through the 3 locks the alarm will go off

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  8. I cant imagine how awful that must have been. You poor thing. Was he OK?
    Thanks for the tip re. alarm. Bunnings here I come.

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  9. like the sound of that alarm I need to check that out too. Re the trackingcentral if it is to be carried or in a shoe whats to stop the child removing them. Some sort of bracelet like the medic alerts would be great (if our kids could tolerate them?) - microchip perhaps ? (she says only half joking) - my biggest fear - my 4 yo is also a wanderer and no road sense/safety awareness at all.

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    1. Hi Michelle,

      The microchip to be able to track a persons location is still science fiction given the need for a tracker to have a GPS module, sim card module, not to mention battery. However i am sure in time technology will get there. Microchips are used in pets, however a misconception is that they can track the pets location, this is NOT the case. Pet microchips are used to determine owner information once the pet has been found.

      In the mean time our CareTracker can be securely attached to a child or their clothing as it has a magnetic lock which cannot be unlocked without using the supplied high strength magnet.

      The GPS Smart Shoes can be taken off however as they are so comfortable to wear its hoped they become the favoured shoe to wear.

      Should anyone wish to speak with me about personal tracking technology please call me on 1300 255 990

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  10. Michele I like the idea of a micro chip too, and I think it is a viable possibility.
    BTW - I love your blog.

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