Dangerous encounters - Wendy Schunick

Most emergency workers know very little about autism. This book explains what to look for and how to successfully handle encounters with people who have autism. It takes emergency responders and parents through everyday situations, stressing safety and awareness. This helps avoid the many problems that have and do arise when encountering autism in emergencies.

In addition, this book is aimed at retailers and retail security, as people with autism can look extremely suspicious in shops. For instance, a person with autism may well start to rearrange CDs or books by color. This can leave a wrong impression on a retailer who hasn't encountered autism before and lead to the police being called.

Both professionals and parents can work to prevent escalating situations. If given proper education, serious situations can be avoided when a person with autism is involved. This book contains practical appendices, such as emergency ID card instructions and how to make a travel communication safety book, as well as safety social stories that teach a person with autism how to act safely in emergency situations. It outlines a number of steps everyone can take and guidelines that can be followed. It is also a good training tool for emergency responders.