New Autism Safety Box Program Announced

(Press Release) RIVIERA BEACH, FL – Safe Kids Palm Beach County, a program of Community Partners of South Florida, is proud to announce the launch of the new Autism Safety Box program. 
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This collaborative initiative, developed in partnership with the Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County (CSCPBC) and Florida Atlantic University’s Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (FAU CARD), aims to provide essential tools and resources to families to prevent drowning among children with autism.

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The program was created in direct response to a comprehensive study by the Children's Services Council of Palm Beach County, which revealed a tragic increase in drownings. Since January 2021, at least 120 children with autism have drowned in Florida, with 22 of those deaths occurring since August of this year. 

These sobering statistics underscore the urgent need for heightened awareness and comprehensive safety measures.

The Autism Safety Box is specifically designed to address common risks associated with children on the autism spectrum, including attraction to water and a propensity for wandering or elopement. Each box contains a variety of life-saving items, including:

• Scent jars for K9 detection in case a child goes missing.
• Painter's tape and stop sign stickers for visual cues.
• A fridge magnet with important safety information and emergency contacts.

SafeKids PBC also offers pool alarms with remote speakers which will sound within the home when the surface of the pool is disturbed.

“We also have an educational presentation that educates all parents with small children how to incorporate water safety in their homes including pool barriers and fencing,” Wall said. “One of the things we really emphasize is that all caregivers check the water first when a child goes missing.”

The program is made possible by a $50,000 grant from CSCPBC for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.

According to Jon Burstein, Senior Communications Specialist at CSCPBC, “Since FAU CARD is one of the first points of contact for families after they receive a diagnosis, it made sense to have them be the primary distributor of the Autism Safety Box.”

In addition to the physical tools, the initiative includes educational resources and information about related programs such as Schools to Pool, which provides swimming lessons, including adaptive swim lessons tailored for children on the spectrum.

For more information about the Autism Safety Boxes, contact Safe Kids PBC Program Director Kathy Wall at [email protected].