Guidelines For Protecting Special Needs Kids From Predators

As parents of special needs children, it can be a daunting prospect to keep children safe. No matter how well they are watched, our children are still vulnerable to those that would prey upon them.

Here is a short list of helps for parents.

1) Adults ask other adults for help. They do not ask children. The proper response when asked for help by an adult? “Let me get my mother/father.” This answer will often get a child out of trouble before it happens. If someone loses their puppy, an adult can help him find it.

2) Children need to always let their parents know where they will be, and check in often.

3) Make sure the child knows your contact information. This is key. Phone number, address, your full name, go a long way towards protecting a child in an emergency. For children who have a hard time memorizing phone numbers, a card carried in a pocket or a necklace with i.d. (worn inside a shirt so a predator doesn’t notice it) may help as well.

4) Consider a pre-paid cell phone, preprogrammed with your number that the child can hit in an emergency. These phones are inexpensive and might very well save a child’s life. Make sure the child knows how to dial “911″ in an emergency.

5) Have a password that only family or those associated with family knows. Instruct your child not to go with someone who does not know the password.

6) Impress upon a child not to get near cars, or people they don’t know. Obviously, a child afraid of everyone is not the goal, but try to help the child to understand that while most people are good, some are not, and we don’t always know which one is which. Strangers don’t look mean or menacing most of the time.

7) If the child gets into a bad situation, he can find a mother with children. Often, this person will help him.

As a parent, make sure you have current photos of your child and know what they are wearing as much as possible for the day. From the National Alert Registry:

When you can not find your child, you should immediately call your local law enforcement and provide your child’s name, date of birth, height, weight, and any distinctive marks such as eyeglasses, braces or scars. Request that your child’s information be immediately entered into the National Crime Information Center’s Missing Person File. After you have reported your child missing to local law enforcement, call the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST.

Tina Cruz is a writer, wife and mother of three children. The two youngest children have high-functioning autism and the oldest has undiagnosed Asperger’s Syndrome tendencies. She advocates for autism awareness and education, as well as acceptance. She views autism as a growth process and the opportunity to connect parents for support as a privilege. She is the editor of the Special Needs channel here at Typeamom. Her personal blog can be found at Send Chocolate. You can email her at sendchocolatenow@gmail.com with questions or comments.

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3. Before a Special Needs IEP Meeting
4. Handling Change for Kids with Autism
5. Mistakes Children With Autism Make In Friendships