Episode Details

David welcomes Lori McIlwain,  founder and president of the National Autism Safety Council, to discuss autism safety with a focus on preventing harm while preserving dignity. Lori shares how her son’s repeated school elopements led her to collect fatality data, revealing distinct patterns including frequent drowning and a tendency to head toward nearby water, which informed “search water first” guidance and advocacy for national attention and policy change. They describe gaps then and now, including parent blame and arrests, law-enforcement policies that prioritize searching homes, and limited mental-health supports for higher-support-needs individuals, while highlighting simple, effective accommodations in care. Lori also addresses early suicide ideation, especially in autistic females, stresses daily mental check-ins, and emphasizes ongoing first-responder training. Her tip: define and communicate a child’s required supervision level across caregivers. 

Resources are available at autismsafetycouncil.org and searchwaterfirst.org

Contact David at david.kaufer@me.com

Topics

00:37 Why Autism Safety Matters

02:25 Lori Story Begins

04:07 Data And Drowning Pattern

06:28 Partnering With NCMEC

09:50 Resources And Policy Wins

11:57 Progress And Current Gaps

14:57 Beyond Elopement Risks

15:42 Talking Suicide Early

20:47 Girls Masking And Burnout

23:44 Therapy Access Gaps

25:50 Simple Clinical Accommodations

27:38 Trauma And Counseling Needs

28:25 Virtual Communication Support

29:20 Nervous System Sick Days

30:58 Safety With Dignity

35:05 First Responder Training Moments

37:08 Tip of the Week Supervision Levels

40:40 Community PSA What Do You See

45:34 Factor Fiction Parent Blame

50:50 Resources and Final Wrap